Frank R. James is an American man who made headlines in April 2022 when the NYPD named him ‘the person of interest’ in the New York City Subway attack that took place on the morning of 12 April 2022 in which at least 10 people suffered injuries and at least 19 more people received injuries during the evacuation.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Frank R. James was born on Saturday, 8 August 1959 (age 62 years; as of 2021) in Bronx, New York. [1]The New York Times His zodiac sign is Leo. He grew up in Bronx, New York. According to the police, he has addresses in Wisconsin and Philadelphia. [2]The New York Times
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 5″
Hair Colour: N/A (bald)
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
His father’s name is Charlie Claud.
Frank R James’ father Charlie Claud
He has a sister named Barbara Jean.
Frank R James’ sister Barbara Jean
Wife
According to his Facebook page, he is single.
New York City Subway Attack
On 12 April 2022, an attacker shot many people on a Manhattan-bound N subway car on the New York City Subway in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Reportedly, the mass shooting started at 8:24 a.m. Sources claim that after the train left 59th Street station, the attacker put on a gas mask and threw two smoke canisters, commonly bought online, onto the floor of a train car, and as the train approached 36th Street station, he opened fire with a .380 caliber handgun. Reportedly, the suspect was seen mumbling before he put on the gas mask. According to a police official, the gun was jammed during the incident after the attacker fired at least 33 shots. [3]ABC News
Brooklyn Subway Station after the emergency personnel formed a perimeter around the station in the wake of mass shooting on 12 April 2022
According to a 24-year-old passenger named Yav Montano, the whole car was filled with smoke. He said,
It was hard to breathe, it was hard to see. It was hard to hear or pay attention to what was going on with the chaos that was happening.”
A Brooklyn Subway Station filled with smoke after the mass shooting on 12 April 2022
Evacuation
After the train arrived at 36th Street station, the wounded and horrified passengers disembarked at the platform, where the police arrived at 8:30 a.m. [4]The New York Daily News According to a police official, there were no working cameras in the 36th Street station due to a glitch computer malfunction, and the police were able to get an image of the suspect from a bystander’s cellphone video. The footage also revealed the chaos of the evacuation. When the train arrived at 25th Street station, passengers started running for the exits in a panic after the police instructed them to leave the station, and this panic injured more people. [5]The New York Times
Investigation & Recoveries
Following the incident, the investigators recovered a gun, three extended magazines, a hatchet, gasoline, four smoke grenades, and a bag of consumer-grade fireworks. The police claimed that the gun was not stolen.
A bag was recovered from the 36th Street subway stop that contained commercial grade fireworks and smoke canisters, in Brooklyn, N.Y., on 12 April 2022
The investigators also recovered a credit card from the scene, and they claimed that the card was used to rent a U-Haul. According to the police, they found keys to the vehicle in the shooter’s possession. On the afternoon of 12 April 2022, the investigators traced the vehicle in Gravesend, Brooklyn, which was roughly five miles southeast of the subway station, and they started investigating if the vehicle had any connection to the suspect. [6]ABC News
The U-Haul van spotted by the investigators in Brooklyn, N.Y., on 12 April 2022
Suspect: The Person of Interest
Following the investigation and recoveries, the New York City Police Department announced a person of interest in connection with the New York City Subway attack. The investigators released a photo of the person and said that they were looking for Frank James. The investigators also asked the public to call NYPD Crime Stoppers with any information on the suspects’ whereabouts.
This is Frank James who is a person of interest in this investigation. Any information can be directed to @NYPDTips at 800-577-TIPS. pic.twitter.com/yBpenmsX67
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) April 12, 2022
The police described the gunman as an ‘active shooter.’ According to the police, James rented the van in Philadelphia. The police also announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to his whereabouts. Later, in a press conference, police commissioner Keechant Sewell said that they were not sure about the motive of the suspect behind the mass shooting. He said,
At this time, we still do not know the suspect’s motivation. Clearly this individual boarded the train and was intent on violence.”
Aftermath & Reactions
In a press statement, the White House said, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas were briefed on the situation. Later, in a statement, President Joe Biden said that he was concerned for those who were injured during the shooting. He said,
We’re grateful for all the first responders … including civilians, who didn’t hesitate to help their fellow passengers.”
The FBI officials also reached out to provide their assistance to the investigators at the scene. Later, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul visited the recuperating victims at Maimondes Hospital.
Favourites
- Sports: Boxing
- Boxer: Muhammad Ali
- Revolutionary: Fidel Castro
Facts/Trivia
- In July 2020, he started working at Lucent Technologies.
- He was associated with Argus Community, a non-profit organization, that he left in 1979.
- He runs a Facebook page with the name Frank Whitaker.
- He often shares photos of his birthday celebration on social media.
Frank R James celebrating his 61st birthday with a bottle of Black Label
References
