The New York Police Commissioner said the suspect, Frank James, was arrested with the help of information provided by locals after a 30-hour search. He faces a federal charge for violating a law prohibiting attacks on public transportation.
“My fellow New Yorkers, we got it. We got it,” Mayor Eric Adams said at a press conference. “We will protect the people of this city and apprehend those who believe they can bring terror into the daily lives of New Yorkers.”
Keechant Sewell, the police commissioner, told the press conference that James had already been arrested nine times in New York and three times in New Jersey. If convicted of charges related to Tuesday’s attack, he could be sentenced to life in prison, authorities said.
James, 62, fired a semi-automatic handgun that was later found at the scene, along with three extended ammo magazines, a hatchet, consumer-grade fireworks and a container of gasoline , police said.
In addition to those shot, five of whom were in critical but stable condition on Wednesday, 13 others were injured in a panic race to flee the smoky train. All victims should survive.
The US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) determined that James purchased the weapon used in the attack in 2011, John DeVito, an ATF New York official, said at the conference. Press.
The attack is the latest outburst of violence to hit America’s largest city transit system, and posed a new challenge to Mr. Adams, who has been trying to stem the decline in ridership during the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure public safety.
James was apprehended in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan after being spotted by passers-by who posted photos of him on social media which alerted police, local media reported.
Authorities told reporters that an investigation was ongoing to determine what may have been James’ motive. They partly focused on the numerous messages and videos posted by the suspect on social media.
VAN U-HAUL
According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), James, who has addresses in Philadelphia and Milwaukee, Wis., left the keys to a rented U-Haul pickup truck at the crime scene in the 36th Stock Exchange, in the Sunset Park Brooklyn neighborhood.
Investigators found a number of social media posts linked to someone named Frank James that mentioned homelessness and Adams, Sewell said. A YouTube account apparently owned by James was taken down on Wednesday “for violating YouTube’s Community Guidelines”, the video platform said.
Attempts by Reuters to reach any of the telephone numbers associated with James were unsuccessful.
In an interview with The New York Times, James’ sister Catherine James Robinson said he had “been alone all his life” and was surprised by the incident.
“I don’t think he would do such a thing. It’s not in his nature to do something like that,” she said.
NO OTHER OPTION
On Wednesday morning, with the shooter still at large, New Yorkers continued to move, saying the violence would not deter them.
“It was terrible. I was sad; I had to explain it to my daughter,” said Matthew Mosk, a commuter. “I was lucky not to be on the train because I usually commute at that time.”
Another man taking the tube, Nathan Sandidge, said: “I don’t really have any other option. This is what we have to do to get to work. .”
Passenger numbers have fallen during the pandemic, from 5.5 million trips per weekday to an average of 3.3 million last week. New York has also seen a surge in violent crime, including seemingly random attacks on the subway.
Transit violence has included a number of attacks in which passengers were pushed onto train tracks from platforms, including a Manhattan woman whose murder was seen as part of a increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans.
After Tuesday’s attack, Mayor Adams pledged to double the number of officers assigned to subway security. He prioritized increasing police patrols and expanding mental health awareness programs to combat violence.
The mayor told MSNBC on Wednesday that the city was investigating new technology for metal detectors that would keep people safe while minimizing disruption.
“There are new models that are used in ball games, ball parks, hospitals, where you don’t stop to rummage through your stuff, you just walk in through a device,” Adams said.