Defendant Fired 32 Rounds, Wounding 10 Defenseless Victims Before His Gun Jammed on Crowded Subway Car in Brooklyn in April 2022Frank James, 62, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge William F. Kuntz II to 20 years in prison.
James shot 10 people during an attack on the New York City subway in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, on April 12, 2022.
James previously pleaded guilty to all 11 counts of a superseding indictment, which included ten counts of committing a terrorist attack or other violence against a mass vehicle – one count for each gunshot victim – and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of his violent attack.
“Nothing can undo the damage that Frank James’s mass shooting inflicted on the 10 victims who were shot or the dozens more who suffered other injuries, but this sentence ensures that he will spend the rest of his life in prison for the devastation he caused,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.
During rush hour on the morning of April 12, 2022, James used a Glock 17 pistol he legally purchased to conduct a mass shooting on an N subway train in Brooklyn.
James planned his act of terror for years – purchasing smoke bombs, disguises, firearms, and ammunition. He scouted the location for his attack and completed multiple practice runs.
As part of his attack, James, disguised in an orange reflective jacket and yellow hard hat to look like a Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) employee, set off a smoke bomb in a subway car before opening fire on his captive victims.
Panicked passengers ran to the far end of the subway car, allowing James to shoot at his victims more quickly.
When the defendant started shooting, the train was between stations and then temporarily stalled, leaving victims trapped. In total, ten victims were struck by 16 bullets fired by the defendant.
Dozens more suffered from smoke inhalation and other mental and physical injuries due to the defendant’s attack.
James then fled the scene of the attack, changing his clothing frequently to evade detection while law enforcement engaged in a 36-hour manhunt to find him and bring him to justice.
At some point after the shooting, James purchased a burner phone which he used to follow the coverage of his attack while hiding from law enforcement.
For example, James watched 31 videos of news reports about his subway shooting. He also watched a James Bond chase scene from the movie “No Time to Die” 10 times after the attack.
Finally, James turned himself in by calling the NYPD crime stoppers hotline on April 13, 2022, the day after the mass shooting.
The New York Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara K. Winik and Ellen H. Sise for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case.