NEW YORK (AP) — A federal grand jury has indicted a man suspected of shooting up a New York subway train last month, an attack that injured 10 people and put a city already experiencing a surge in of violent crimes.
On Friday, the jury indicted Frank James, 62, for committing a terrorist attack or any other act of violence against a mass transportation system, and for discharging a firearm during a violent crime.
Both charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. The crime of possession of weapons has a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.
James was arrested on April 13, nearly 30 hours after authorities say he drove from Philadelphia and unleashed smoke bombs and fired dozens of bullets at a train packed with morning commuters as it approached a Brooklyn station.
The ages of the shooting victims ranged from 16 to 60 years old; all are expected to survive.
According to authorities, James’s bank card, his cell phone and the key to a van he had rented were found at the scene of the attack. In addition, police found the gun used in the shooting and linked it to James.
James is jailed without bail. According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, no arraignment has yet been scheduled.
The lawyer representing James at the time of his arrest cautioned against rushing to trial, noting that James disclosed his location to the police.
James was arrested in the East Village of Manhattan after he called a tip line to indicate that he was at a fast food restaurant in that area of the city.
The motive for the attack is unclear.
Throughout the many comments he posted on YouTube, James, who is Black, made bigoted statements about people of diverse backgrounds, lashed out at New York Mayor Eric Adams, and complained about the mental health care he received for years. in the city.
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