In a federal courtroom on Tuesday, a gunman accused of opening fire inside a Brooklyn, New York, subway car in an attack that alarmed commuters in the nation’s largest city entered a guilty plea to terrorism-related charges.
On April 12, 2022, an attack left 10 New York subway passengers injured. Frank R. James acknowledged that he was the perpetrator.
James, 63, claimed he only intended to cause serious bodily harm—not death—while sporting a beige jail jumpsuit and black-rimmed glasses.
The alleged shooter was apprehended on April 13 after a protracted 30-hour manhunt that came to an end when he dialed 911 and was apprehended at a McDonald’s. James had earlier vowed to contest the accusations.
He will go on trial for the allegations in late February.
What did the gunman do?
On Tuesday, April 12, 2022, during morning rush hour, the gunman started shooting inside an N train in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, that was headed toward Manhattan.
The attacker shot 10 people on the train and on the platform while concealing his face with a gas mask, detonating two smoke grenades, and firing a barrage of indiscriminate shots from inside the train as it moved between stations.
In the commotion, the suspect—who was dressed as a maintenance worker—ran away, sparking a manhunt across the entire city.
All of the other at least 19 patients who were taken to hospitals for injuries ranging from shrapnel wounds to smoke inhalation survived.
Before the shooting, James, a Black man, uploaded a large number of videos to the internet in which he rants about racism, violence, and his battles with mental illness. In others, he voiced his displeasure and denounced how Black people were treated, adding, “I should have simply taken up a pistol and started firing.” In one video, he can be seen standing inside a crowded subway vehicle in New York City, pointing out each individual.
What is Frank James accused of?
Judge William F. was informed by James’ lawyers. on December, Kuntz II. 21 that he desired to enter a guilty plea to the 11 charges levied against him without a plea bargain.
Ten of those allegations, each related with a specific victim, accuse him of carrying out a terrorist assault against a major transportation system that carried passengers and staff. James is charged with using a gun during a violent crime in the eleventh count. Depending on the circumstances, the charges could result in a life sentence in prison.
What did the prosecutors say?
Assistant U. attended the hearing. S. Sara Winik, an attorney, claimed that James “intended to cause maximum harm at the height of rush hour.” The federal sentencing guidelines, which suggest a sentence of between 32 and 39 years, were not the only option that the prosecution intended to ask the judge to consider. Lawyers claimed that James spent years planning the attack and endangering the lives of numerous people.
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