Brooklyn Subway Shooting: Suspect Description Revealed as Manhunt Begins, Attack Not Act of Terrorism

According to two law enforcement officials, a credit card used to rent a U-Haul cargo van assisted detectives in New York in identifying the culprit who opened fire on a Brooklyn subway.

The gunman was described as a 5-foot-5-inch Black male with a hefty build who was wearing a green work jacket and a gray hooded sweatshirt. Authorities claimed they uncovered mobile phone footage of the suspect taken by an eyewitness.

Manhunt Continues as Gun Recovered From Subway Station

According to two internal emails acquired by CNN, just after 2 pm, NYPD commanders issued an Arizona license plate number and told all officers and detectives to be on the lookout for the van. Two law enforcement officials told CNN that the vehicle was found a few hours later in the Gravesend neighborhood of Brooklyn.

In accordance with a law enforcement source, the NYPD's bomb squad is responding to the Brooklyn area where the U-Haul vehicle was discovered. U-Haul has stated that the company is cooperating with authorities.

At least 29 individuals were hurt in the shooting on Tuesday, and they were treated at three neighboring hospitals for injuries that were not life-threatening. Ten individuals were shot, and others were hospitalized for smoke inhalation, shrapnel, and terror as a result of the incident, according to FDNY First Deputy Commissioner Laura Kavanagh.

In the mayhem that followed the shooting aboard the Manhattan-bound N train at the 36th Street and Fourth Avenue stop in Sunset Park about 8:30 am, at least another 19 passengers were injured. The gunman was still on the run nine hours later.

As reported by a person related to the investigations, his pistol may have jammed, saving lives. According to sources and officials, a weapon, as well as a bag containing smoke canisters and pyrotechnics, was found at the scene, confirming the possibility of a premeditated attack on New York City transport users.

Authorities have a photograph of the individual whom they believe is the suspect and are attempting to identify him. They were also hunting for a U-Haul van with Arizona plates that may be related to the suspect, and they spotted one on King's Highway in Gravesend that fit the description.

Five of the victims of the gunshots were believed to be in critical condition. The nature of their injuries was not immediately evident. There have been no fatalities recorded. It's unclear what type of pistol was used, and it's also unclear how many rounds were fired.

The whole train car smelled like gasoline, according to witnesses, and MTA sources verified this. Later, a gasoline spray container was discovered.

Early fears about probable explosive devices linked to the case were sparked by the smoke canister and frightening footage from the train; however, at an early afternoon press conference, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell informed New Yorkers that there are no known bomb devices on any subway trains in the city at this moment.

The suspect was in the same train car as several of the wounded. Authorities said that there were others on the platform. Sewell claims he put on a gas mask, dropped a smoke canister on the subway car floor, and began firing while the train was still moving.

The train came to a complete stop at the following station, 25th Street. When the Manhattan-bound N train arrived at the platform, greenish smoke billowed from the subway doors. People were seen fleeing the scene and bleeding profusely. In total, 29 people were injured. The approximately two dozen victims who were not shot were harmed by the crowd's reaction to the chaos, NBC New York reported.

NYPD: Chaos Is Not a Terrorist Attack

NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell's declaration that the Brooklyn subway incident was not a terrorist strike has been disputed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams. While the reason remained unknown and Sewell said she was not ruling anything out, the event was not classified as a terrorist incident, she said at a press briefing just after noon.

Throughout an interview a few hours later, Adams stated unequivocally that the act had caused fear in the city. The event is being treated as an active shooter scenario, and New Yorkers are being advised to avoid the area between 3rd and 5th Avenues from 20th to 40th Streets.

Police are also looking for a U-Haul vehicle with Arizona license plates AL31408. As the manhunt continues, officials have been questioned about the suspect's whereabouts, with Mayor Adams confirming that security cameras at the 36th Street station malfunctioned and so missed the incident, as per Independent.

@YouTube