Prosecutors say Brooklyn subway shooting suspect had ‘an arsenal of weapons’

Prosecutors said on Thursday the man who allegedly opened fire on a New York subway car during rush hour did so with the intention of “being counted ahead” and gaining access to a subway car. “stockpile” of weapons.

Frank James, 62 years old, appeared for the first time in a federal courtroom and charged with carrying out a terrorist attack on public transportation, a federal charge that could carry a life sentence if convicted, prosecutors said.

James picked up a U-Haul van Monday in Philadelphia and traveled to New York City with the violent plan, according to a memo filed by the government.

Federal prosecutors wrote: “The defendant committed a remedial mass shooting on the New York City subway system and then fled the scene, along with a depot of ammunition and other dangerous items stored in their storage.”

U.S. District Court Judge Roanne L. Mann ordered a “permanent remand order” as the case progressed but said the defense could apply for bail.

While James’ defense attorneys did not object to the judge’s prison order, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Winik said she would like a hearing on the matter.

“The defendant opened fire in horror at passengers on a crowded subway train, disrupting their morning commute in a way the city hasn’t seen in over 20 years,” Winik told the court.

“The defendant’s attack was pre-planned, carefully planned, and it caused terror to the victims and our entire city. The defendant’s presence was only outside of confinement. federal custody may pose a serious danger to the public.”

During the brief hearing, which lasted less than 10 minutes, James answered several questions from the judge, saying he understood the proceeding and the case against him.

He is not asked to enter a plea.

The judge also granted Assistant Federal Defender Mia Eisner-Grynberg’s request that the Bureau of Prisons conduct a psychiatric evaluation on James and provide him with magnesium tablets that he takes to treat cramps.

James was arrested Wednesday afternoon in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, ending a furious search that lasted more than 24 hours after a gunman carried out an unprovoked attack on rush hour commuters in Brooklyn.

Thursday’s hearing was about three and a half miles away from where the attack happened a little before 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. The mayhem took place on an N train on the Manhattan line when it pull into 36th Street station in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn.

A man wearing a construction site vest and gas mask, lit two chimneys and opened fire with a 9mm Glock pistol, firing 33 times, injuring 10 people, police said. .

All of the injured were expected to survive, but the melee has raised fears of street crime in New York City, especially on the subway.

Outside federal court, Eisner-Grynberg criticized Tuesday’s attack and called it a “lucky thing” that no one was killed and more people were not injured.

Defense attorneys also confirmed that James called Crime Stoppers and told authorities where to find him. She warned against “hurrying judgment” and reminded the public that her clients have a right to a fair trial.

Hours after the attack, Mayor Eric Adams, a former policeman who made crime fighting the focus of his campaign last year, vowed to significantly increase the police presence on the subway.

Tuesday’s attack will also complicate the ongoing debate about duty back to the office as some employers seek to bring workers back to desks and workrooms they have barely seen in the past two years because of the pandemic.

Myles Miller, Jesse Kirsch and Jonathan Dienst contribute.

at Blogtuan.info – Source: nbcnews.com – Read the original article here