Brooklyn subway shooting: 'Person of interest' is now a suspect, NYPD says

New York, NY
CNN
—

The 62-year-old man who police described as a “person of interest” in the Brooklyn subway shooting on Tuesday is now being considered a suspect, the NYPD said on Wednesday.

An intensive hunt is underway for that man, identified as Frank James, who police believe is responsible for the attack, NYPD spokesperson Lt. Thomas Antonetti told CNN. Police said a train passenger set off smoke grenades and fired a handgun 33 times on a crowded subway train during Tuesday morning’s rush hour, wounding passengers and setting off a panicked scramble.

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James had been named as a “person of interest” in the case on Tuesday as authorities said he rented a U-Haul van that was connected to the attack. It was not immediately clear what evidence led to the change in his status.

The mass shooting started on an N subway train on its way to the 36th Street station in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park – an incident that authorities said left 29 people injured, including 10 shot.

James has addresses in Wisconsin as well as Philadelphia, where the U-Haul was rented, NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said.

“The keys to that U-Haul van was found in the subway in our shooter’s possessions,” Essig said Tuesday. “We don’t know right now if Mr. James has any connection to the subway. That’s still under investigation.”

James and his family did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.

The U-Haul was recovered near the station and has been cleared by the NYPD’s bomb squad, police said. The van will be transported to a forensic location where federal and local authorities can go through the vehicle in a controlled environment, a senior law enforcement official told CNN.

The gunman fired at least 33 times and struck 10 people, according to Essig. Overall, 29 people were hospitalized in connection with the shooting with injuries that included gunshot wounds, smoke inhalation or from falling while trying to escape, officials said.

None of the injuries appear to be life-threatening, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said.

“We know this incident is of grave concern to New Yorkers,” Sewell said. “We cannot lose sight of victims in this city. We will use every resource we can to bring those to justice who continue to prey on the citizens of New York.”

The motive of the shooting is not yet known. The attack is not being investigated as an act of terrorism but authorities have not ruled out anything, Sewell said, adding the victims have a variety of backgrounds.

Investigators found a Glock 9 mm handgun, three extended magazines, two detonated smoke grenades, two non-detonated smoke grenades, a hatchet and the U-Haul key at the scene, Essig said.

Two officials told CNN they believe the gun jammed during the shooting.

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A credit card that was used to rent the U-Haul was also found, two law enforcement sources told CNN.

A $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect has been offered, according to a statement from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which put up the money with the Transport Workers Union Local 100 and the New York City Police Foundation.

“Riders need to feel safe. My members need to feel safe. We don’t just dip in and out of the system. We spend entire shifts down there every day and night. This guy has to be apprehended,” TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano said.

Service via the D, N and R subway lines has been restored to the 36th Street subway station and is “running with delays,” the MTA said early Wednesday. Commuters were riding a Manhattan-bound N train as it neared the station when the shooting started.

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