At his first court appearance Thursday, the man caught after a nearly 30-hour search in connection with the killing of ten people on a Brooklyn subway train was refused bail.
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62-year-old Frank James did not enter a plea in relation to charges that he violated a provision prohibiting terrorist attacks on public transit.
In court, Assistant US Attorney Sara Winik described the incident as “premeditated and carefully planned” in order to support the prosecution’s argument for James’ continued imprisonment. In their brief to the federal court, defense counsel indicated that they were agreeable to his continued detention, but may seek bail again at a later date. Additionally, the attorneys requested a psychological evaluation in order to determine James’ medical needs.
In his one and only statement, James indicated that he had seen the complaint.
“We are all still learning about what happened on that train,” she said. “What we do know is this: Yesterday, Mr. James saw his photograph on the news. He called Crime Stoppers to help. He told them where he was. Initial press and police reports in cases like this one are often inaccurate. Mr. James is entitled to a fair trial, and we will ensure that he receives one.”
In one of the most violent attacks in the history of New York City’s subway system, James boarded a train on Tuesday morning, set off smoke grenades, and then opened fire on commuters.
According to preliminary reports, at least 29 people were injured, including those who were shot and those who were injured by smoke. As of Thursday evening, four people were still hospitalized. The motive for the attack has not been disclosed.
In videos rife with outrage, James claimed to have post-traumatic stress and expressed hatred for African Americans and other people who he thought maligned him. However, the official motive for the attack has not been disclosed. In a video posted in February, he called New York Mayor Eric Adams’ administration’s plan to address homelessness and safety in the subway “doomed to fail.”
His videos in recent weeks have documented his travels from Wisconsin to the Northeast, which he called a “danger zone.”
The police reported that James had been arrested 12 times in New Jersey and New York over the past 30 years. Police said he was eligible to purchase a gun legally since he had never been convicted of a felony.
