Frank James, Accused of NYC Subway Shooting, Denied Bond After Terrifying ‘Whole City’

The attorneys for Frank James, the 62-year-old accused of mass shootings on the New York City subway, then personally called authorities a day later, requesting a psychiatric evaluation after when he was denied binding on Thursday.

James is facing a number of charges, including terrorism against the public transit system, for allegedly dropping two smoke bombs then opening fire inside a subway car as it sped into the station. during rush hour on Tuesday morning, injuring at least two dozen people.

The 62-year-old has ties to Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin will face life in prison if convicted.

In his first court appearance on Thursday, Brooklyn federal prosecutors argued that James should be detained without bail because he was a flying hazard and had carried out an assault “completely precomputed”. Prosecutors noted that James caused “horror to victims and across the city” when he “shot in horror” during his morning commute.

The prosecutor added: “He is a serious danger to the community.

James’ attorney, Mia Eisner-Grynberg of the New York Federal Guard, waived his right to a preliminary hearing but requested that James receive a psychiatric and medical evaluation and receive his magnesium tablets for “leg cramps when incarcerated.” Judge Roanne L. Mann said she would issue the requested ruling late Thursday.

Prosecutors also cited James’ unpublished social media history, which included YouTube videos threatening violence and praising his mental health issues. As The Daily Beast previously reported, James has spoken extensively about issues of race, politics and gun violence – including his desire to “kill” and his disdain for Black people, who Jews, his family and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

In a detention memo, prosecutors allege James picked up a U-Haul in Philadelphia loaded with weapons and a propane gas canister before driving to New York in the early hours of April 12. Subway riders told authorities James, who was in construction, was wearing. wearing a gas mask and muttering to himself as he boarded the crowded N train south of Brooklyn.

“We had a witness on the train that said he was sitting in the back corner of the second car, and he threw a smoke grenade,” NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said Wednesday. “And we had a witness who said, ‘What did you do?’ He said, “Oops,” and then he turned it on, then swung the gun and fired 33 times. “

As the smoke-filled train raced to 36th Street, commuters could be seen running for their lives while others fell to the ground with gunshot wounds. Meanwhile, James entered the R carriage that was sitting on the platform before finally exiting the one-stop carnage, a criminal complaint states.

James left behind countless pieces of evidence, including a 9mm Glock gun, three expansion magazines, a backpack, a bag of fireworks and smoke canisters, a fireplace, a spray bottle of gasoline, and a tag credit he used to rent the U.-Haul, and a receipt for the storage unit in Philadelphia.

Inside a Philadelphia apartment he rented for 15 days last month, authorities are said to have found an empty magazine for a “Glock pistol, a pistol, a rifle magazine” large capacity and a blue smoke canister [sic],” according to a criminal complaint. Prosecutors also allege James had more weapons, including an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, in storage.

He was finally arrested on Wednesday afternoon in the East Village. Two law enforcement officials told The Daily Beast, James called Crime Stopper from a McDonalds – but left before police arrived. Three “Good Samaritans,” one of whom appeared to be a 21-year-old camera installer named Zack, later spotted him a few blocks away and flagged the officers, officials said.