Brooklyn shooting update: Frank James ordered to be held behind bars in first federal court appearance

Commuters were left in shock after a gunman spray fired bullets on a train at the 25th St station, sending shockwaves through a city that has witnessed a rise in violent crime and subway attacks as it emerges from a crippling pandemic.

Visuals of scenes that unfolded after the shooting show terrified commuters running for cover, wounded people receiving emergency care and blood scattered on the subway station.ing shockwaves through a city that has witnessed a rise in violent crime and subway attacks as it emerges from a crippling pandemic.

Danny Mastrogiorgio had just dropped his four-year-old son off at school and was waiting for a train to go to work when a scene of chaos unfolded in front of him. As a train pulled into the platform at 25 Street station in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park, crowds of people poured out of the carriage in panic.

“I saw people running up the stairs, running down the street. A guy came out waving his arms, trying to get the cops to come down,” the Brooklyn resident told The Independent.

“Eventually a bunch of ambulances pulled up. I saw them take one guy with a leg wound. “They had him in the middle of the street there before the ambulance got him,” he added.

Read Richard Hall’s special report from the ground.

The search for the alleged Brooklyn subway shooter continued late into the night on Tuesday, after Frank R James was named a person of interest in connection with the attack.

The NYPD said Mr James, a Black male with a heavy build who was last seen wearing a gray hoodie and a green construction vest, had rented a van near to the scene of the shooting.

A key to that U-Haul van was found inside the station in Sunset, Brooklyn, said NYPD chief James Essig on Tuesday. It does remain unclear however if he is the gunman, authorities stressed. A search is ongoing.

The 36th Street subway station was reopened early on Wednesday after investigators’ concluded their work there, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) said.

Trains had been bypassing the station in Sunset, Brooklyn, for most of the day after the shooting took place at about 8.30am on Tuesday.

In a show of solidarity with fellow New Yorkers, governor Kathy Hochul later rode the subway on Tuesday evening along with the MTA’s chair and CEO Janno Lieber. The group went to visit the two dozen people injured at the Maimonides Medical Center.

Uber has said it will refund any customers who were charged extra for journeys on Tuesday in Brooklyn following a shooting at a subway station.

The U-turn came amid complaints on social media from Uber users who were experiencing a surcharge for their journeys because of increased demand – it was thought many people wanted to avoid using the subway in the aftermath of the fatal attack, or were unable to use the subway.

In an update, the app said on Tuesday evening: “Our hearts go out to the victims of this morning’s terrible shooting in Sunset Park. Uber has capped pricing citywide, and if anyone experienced unintended charges in the area during the emergency, we will work to refund them.”

The Independent’s Chelsea Ritschel has more:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Transport Workers Union (TWU) have each put $12,500 (£9,613) towards a reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect in Tuesday’s shooting.

In a statement, the transport network said the $25,000 (£19,226) put forward along with the union would make the total reward on offer $50,000 (£38,449), after the New York Police Foundation also offered $25,000.

“We are doing everything we can to catch the man responsible for this heinous attack on our riders,” said MTA chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “New Yorkers know that if they see something, they should say something, especially in this case.  Justice must be served.”

NYPD Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said while the subway shooting was not being treated as terrorism, FBI agents and members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force have been involved in the initial investigation and search for the gunman.

FBI agents who were on the scene stopped at local nearby businesses, interviewing witnesses and searching for surveillance footage on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press, as they worked to figure out what happened.

Police helicopters were also seen hovering overhead for hours as authorities searched for the shooter, who has not been identified.

The NYPD has named Frank R James a person of interest in the attack, which lead to the injuring of at least 23 people. A reward is on offer for information leading to his arrest.

YouTube videos apparently posted by Frank R James, who is Black, were replete with violent language and bigoted comments, some against other Black people, The Associated Press reported on Tuesday.  In one video posted a day before the attack on the 36th Street Subway, he called out crime committed against Black people and said drastic action is needed.  “You got kids going in here now taking machine guns and mowing down innocent people,” he allegedly said in the video. “It’s not going to get better until we make it better”. Several videos mention New York’s subways and Mayor Eric Adams, who was attacked for his policies on ending homelessness and violent crime. Mr James allegedly said some of those policies were “doomed for failure”.

He is wanted by police and remains on the run.

New York’s attorney general was among those state and city leaders to issue a statement on Tuesday following the shooting in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

Letitia James, who said she was monitoring the situation, said: “In the face of great challenge, New Yorkers always rise to help each other. Today was no different; New Yorkers responded with courage and compassion.”

“My office is monitoring the situation and we remain in contact with the NYPD and our other partners in law enforcement. Our entire city is grateful to the transit workers, first responders, and everyday New Yorkers who acted quickly to help those in need.”

Frank R James has now been officially named a suspect in Tuesday’s horror subway attack as he remains on the run more than 24 hours on from the shooting.

Mayor Eric Adams announced on Wednesday morning that the sole person of interest wanted in connection to the shooting is now being considered a suspect.