Officials have identified a 62-year-old man who screamed against Mayor Eric Adams and posted weird threatening rants on YouTube as a person of interest in the heinous Brooklyn subway attack that injured at least 29 people Tuesday morning.
Frank James, who warned last month that he was "entering the danger zone," rented a U-Haul vehicle linked to the Sunset Park N train attack and is being sought for questioning, according to authorities.
Inside Frank James' Posts Prior to Brooklyn Subway Shooting
He also chastised the mayor for failing to do more to address homelessness. Following the discovery of the recordings, the NYPD said that Mayor Adams' security will be beefed up.
In the videos, James claims to have a confirmed mental disorder and rails about the city's mental health services, which he refers to as a "horror show." The person of interest went on a rant on racial issues, claiming that the Russian invasion of Ukraine proved that black people in society were treated with contempt.
According to detectives and law-enforcement officials, the key to James' van was discovered at the crime site, as was a credit card used to hire the vehicle out of Philadelphia. Because his clothing and personal care goods were found inside the U-Haul van, cops suspect James was residing there, New York Post reported.
James claims to have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder in another video in which he appears to be driving a massive truck. James also stated that he hasn't had another incident since then. However, he claimed that he spent time in the city's mental health treatment clinics, where he said there was violence. At around 8.30 am, a gunshot happened on a Brooklyn subway, injuring at least 16 people.
At this point, the victims are said to have non-life-threatening injuries. The attacker started the fire at the subway station on 36th Street and Fourth Avenue, sending travelers scrambling to catch connecting trains. In a news conference, a police spokeswoman stated that there are no known explosive devices aboard subway trains at this time and that the shooting is not being investigated as a terrorist crime.
The incident happened on a Manhattan-bound N train, according to the spokeswoman. The man put on a gas mask, got a canister out of his luggage, and a train filled with smoke, and he opened fire on the subway and platform," according to The Sun.
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Manhunt Continues After Person of Interest Is Identified
James, 62, was last seen in Philadelphia. However, his name appears on a mailbox at a specific Milwaukee location, which has a forwarding address to a P.O. box. James was recognized by witnesses and neighbors who lived near the Milwaukee location. It's unclear when he was last seen in Milwaukee, but an internet video shows him traveling from Milwaukee to Illinois on March 20, as per CBS News.
According to police, the accused suspect was in the second car of a Manhattan-bound N train between the 59th and 36th street stations. The suspect allegedly threw two gas grenades before firing his weapon 33 times as the train approached the 36th Street station.
Chief Kenneth Corey said there were no police officers at the 36th Street station at the time of the event; however, officers are constantly patrolling stations on a rotational basis. At the news conference, NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig revealed that ten of the injured commuters were hit by gunshots.
A total of 13 passengers were treated for smoke inhalation and falls after they attempted to evacuate the train. Earlier today, police officers seized a 9mm semiautomatic firearm, extended magazines, a hatchet, and gasoline, according to Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, who spoke at a news conference Tuesday evening.
Law enforcement authorities said during the conference that there is presently a combined $50,000 reward for any information leading to the suspect's capture. The MTA and TWU Local 100 have each contributed $12,500 in reward money, while the New York City Police Foundation has contributed $25,000.
No arrests have been made and the investigation is still ongoing. The motive for the shooting has yet to be identified, according to Silive.
Related Article : Brooklyn Subway Shooting Photos, Videos Reveal Horrible Aftermath of Deadly Attack
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