NEW YORK – The gunman who put on a gas mask, deployed a gas canister and opened fire on morning commuters Tuesday morning in Brooklyn, has been arrested.
Frank James, 62, was nabbed by police near St. Marks and First Avenue in the Manhattan’s East Village.
According to WNBC, a Crime Stoppers call lead to the arrest.
We are awaiting a press conference from the NYPD. Watch live below.
At least 10 people were shot and 6 others were injured when James fired at least 33 rounds inside the subway car, officials said. Five victims are in critical condition but are expected to survive.
The incident happened on a Manhattan-bound N subway car near the 36th Street subway station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
James has ties to Wisconsin and Philadelphia. A motive for the attack remains unknown.
James posted numerous videos to YouTube speaking about the oppression of black people in America.
He also discussed homelessness in New York City and said that Jewish people’s prayers went unanswered during the Holocaust. Watch a portion of the footage below.
In the most recent posting, a day before the attack, James published a video titled “DOMESTICATED AVERAGES” discussing the case of Jaleel Smith-Riley.
Smith-Riley, 23, pleaded guilty on Aug. 11 to aggravated murder and attempted murder during a robbery, but decided to withdraw his plea against the advice of his attorneys. A judge ultimately rejected Smith-Riley’s plea withdraw and sentenced him life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In another post on April 7, James discussed the confirmation of Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.
According to WNBC, ‘more unexploded smoke canisters were found on the train where the gunfire erupted, as were gasoline cans, further evidence supporting law enforcement officials’ preliminary view that the shooting was a premeditated attack.’
Multiple people were shot during a subway shooting in Brooklyn on Tuesday morning. Cell phone video shows commuters running off the platform while smoke is seen. pic.twitter.com/O0aO8lOEPW
— NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) April 12, 2022
NEW: Senior LE official tells @jonathan4ny suspect in subway shooting set off some kind of smoke device and began shooting on the third car of a northbound N train as it approached the 36th/4av station in Brooklyn #nbc4ny pic.twitter.com/ZaiEYT9K7v
— Steven Bognar (@Bogs4NY) April 12, 2022
#BREAKING: Video reportedly of Brooklyn Subway Shooting. pic.twitter.com/QriD4z62Gk
— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) April 12, 2022
#BREAKING: 5 reportedly injured in possible shooting at Sunset Park subway station in Brooklyn, New York. Explosive ordinances reportedly found.
Developing… pic.twitter.com/zGVjpfXxbG
— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) April 12, 2022
NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said at a news conference there was no apparent link to terrorism.
BREAKING: NYPD Commissioner says man in gas mask deployed smoke canister inside subway car before opening fire striking several people; the suspect is on the run
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 12, 2022
It was later reported that police were looking for a U-Haul van with Arizona license plates AL31408 that may be linked to the attack. The van was later found a few miles away near Kings Highway and West 3rd in Brooklyn.
Near the scene, police found a bag of fireworks, a hatchet, two loaded magazines and a spray bottle of gasoline, WNBC reported.
Latest on NYC subway shooting incident starting in minutes at 4PM on @NBCPhiladelphia @CydneyLongNBC10 is live in Brooklyn. Law enforcement sources tell @NBCNewYork this is photo of bag believed left in subway by suspect — with smoke canisters and fireworks. @tracydavidson pic.twitter.com/XDReQpLSJm
— Jim Rosenfield (@jimrosenfield) April 12, 2022
“We’re praying for all New Yorkers who were injured or affected by today’s attack,” said NYC Mayor Eric Adams. “So far, we know that we have a multiple number of injuries, including victims of gunshot wounds…We will not allow New Yorkers to be terrorized even by a single individual. The NYPD is searching for the suspect at large, and we will find him.”
My statement on this morning's shooting in Brooklyn: pic.twitter.com/TbLfCZa7WW
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 12, 2022
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
