Brooklyn subway shooting suspect taken into custody: 'We got him'

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (TCD) -- New York Police Department officials have publicly identified the man they believe unleashed smoke grenades and opened fire on a rush hour Manhattan-bound train on Tuesday, April 12.

Frank Robert James, 62, was reportedly taken into custody Wednesday, April 13.

"We got him," Mayor Eric Adams said in a press conference.

NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said James was arrested in New York City's East Village, adding, "There was nowhere else for him to run."

The NYPD tweeted a photo and description of James and said he is "WANTED in connection with firing numerous gunshots inside of a subway car causing serious injuries to 10 victims."

James Essig, Chief of Detectives, said James was known to New York Police and has nine prior arrests in the state.

James faces terrorism charges and could face life in prison if convicted.

According to the tweet, James has connections to New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Police are offering up to $50,000 in rewards for information about James.

James was initially named as a person of interest in the shooting, but New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ press secretary announced he was upgraded to a suspect.

In a press conference Tuesday evening, New York Police officials shared more details about the timeline of events and their investigation thus far. Sewell said the suspect, who was traveling towards Manhattan on the N line, "opened two canisters that dispensed smoke throughout the subway car."

She added, "He then shot multiple passengers as the train pulled into the 36th Street Station in Sunset Park."

Ten people were hurt by gunfire and 13 others suffered injuries "as they either rushed out to get out of the train station or they suffered smoke inhalation."

None of the injuries are life-threatening, Sewell said.

During their investigation, detectives reportedly found a 9 mm semiautomatic Glock handgun, extended magazines, a hatchet, gasoline, a bag containing fireworks, and a fuse. Sewell said the suspect "boarded this train and was intent on violence."

Essig spoke during the press conferences and said investigators recovered 33 discharged shell casings, 15 bullets, five bullet fragments, two detonated smoke grenades, two non-detonated smoke grenades, a hatchet, a black garbage can, a rolling cart, gasoline, and the key to a U-Haul van.

Essig revealed the key led investigators to a van in Brooklyn, which was rented out of Philadelphia.

According to The New York Times, James has allegedly posted several videos on his YouTube channel criticizing Mayor Adams and the war in Ukraine, as well as other comments about violence and crime.

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