New York subway shooter pleads guilty to terrorism charges

Frank James, who opened fire on a crowded New York train in one of the worst attacks on subway systems in years, pleaded guilty Tuesday to terrorism charges related to the April shooting.

James, 63, admitted in federal court in Brooklyn on April 12 that he pulled the trigger on the northbound N train traveling through Sunset Park, Brooklyn, shooting 10 people dead and injuring 23 others.

No one was killed in the incident, but the unprecedented attack shocked many in the city and sparked a 24-hour manhunt before James himself called the police and was arrested in Manhattan.

His lawyers wrote in court documents last month that James plans to plead guilty to all 11 terrorism charges against him without a plea deal. He now faces a life sentence for the assault.

Frank James, who is accused of carrying out the worst attack on a New York City subway system in years, pleaded guilty to terrorism charges on Tuesday

James has been charged with allegations that he opened fire on a crowded Brooklyn subway on April 13

Prosecutors have asked federal judge William Kuntz II to sentence James to more than 40 years in prison for the assault.

They wrote in a letter last week that he should be jailed beyond the federal guidelines-recommended sentence of about 32 to 29 years, arguing that James planned the attack for years and put the lives of dozens at risk, reports FOX 5 .

James “startlingly opened fire on passengers on a crowded subway train, disrupting their morning commute in a way not seen in this city in more than 20 years,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Winik when James first times appeared in court.

James was arrested after a 24-hour citywide manhunt

“The defendant’s attack was premeditated, carefully planned and caused terror among the victims and throughout our city.”

Prosecutors also implied in court documents that James had the means to carry out further attacks.

He had previously been charged with a single terrorism offense to which he pleaded not guilty, but the charges against him were later increased.

Ten of the charges he pleaded guilty to Tuesday — one for each victim — allege he committed a terrorist attack on a mass transit system.

The 11th charge alleges James fired a gun in a violent crime.

James was due to appear in court on those charges in February, but his attorneys wrote in court documents on December 21 that he would plead guilty.

Kuntz had since issued an order directing the US Marshals Service to use “all necessary force” to ensure James showed up for Tuesday’s lawsuit, noting that he had failed to show up for previous hearings.

In October, for example, the shooter resisted being brought before federal court in Brooklyn, but appeared later in the day after Kuntz issued a similar order.

Frantic commuters were seen trying to run for the exits after James opened fire at a Brooklyn subway station in April

A total of 23 people were injured in the attack on the Sunset Park subway station

Ten people were shot dead while dozens were injured in the shooting. Officers and a Good Samaritan tried to help one of the victims of the April shooting

At the time of the attack, James, dressed in a construction worker’s vest and helmet, donned a gas mask and rolled smoke grenades into the train car before opening fire.

Videos from the scene showed hundreds of commuters frantically running towards the exits as gunfire rang out, while others were left bleeding in the station.

The Bronx-born, Milwaukee-based suspect was eventually arrested while strolling down the street on April 13.

In court documents, prosecutors detailed how more ammunition was found at James’s Philadelphia rented apartment, including an extended round magazine fit for a semi-automatic rifle.

His 9mm pistol was later found after the attack at the 36th Street subway station along with spent bullet casings, firecrackers and a key to his U-Haul.

Police also searched a storage unit in Philadelphia where he kept more ammo, a flashlight and a silencer.

There was also a propane tank in the U-Haul when police stumbled upon it hours after the attack.

James allegedly dumped the truck five miles from the 36th Street subway and was filmed walking away. His motive remains unknown.

James is pictured in court on Tuesday listening to the charges against him

His defense attorneys previously said he would plead guilty to the charges without a settlement

Before the terrorist attack, James posted a series of rants online to lash out at the homeless, Mayor Eric Adams and racism on YouTube

The events of the vicious attack recorded in the 24 hours before James was arrested in Manhattan

James has a criminal history dating back to 1992 when he pleaded guilty to attempted petty larceny.

He was known to the FBI’s Guardian Program, which tracks terrorist threats and suspects in a 2019 New Mexico incident.

At that time he was cleared of all wrongdoing.

But in a YouTube video posted just a day before the attack, James said he wanted to harm people and called himself the prophet of doom.

“I can say that I wanted to kill people. I wanted to see people die,” he said.

Another video showed him pointing at passengers one at a time in a crowded New York City subway car.

In other videos, James railed against discrimination and complained about white people.

Mayor Eric Adams suggested that it is YouTube’s responsibility to monitor and report the videos.

“There is a corporate responsibility as we watch hate brew online,” Adams said at the time.

“We can identify [hate] Using artificial intelligence and other methods to identify those speaking out about violence.”

Critics accused Adams of passing the buck, noting that the surveillance cameras at the station weren’t working – allowing James to escape – and that the NYPD couldn’t find him, despite wandering around Manhattan for nearly 24 hours after the attack and eventually the police had called themselves.

A month after the May attack, James’ lawyers accused FBI investigators of violating his rights by swabbing his cheek for a DNA sample and having him sign papers without asking his legal team for permission or making sure they did in accordance with James’ rights.

Further details of this interaction at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Brooklyn were not given.