Subway Shooting Suspect Pleads, “Not Guilty” In Brooklyn Federal Court

By Yehudit Garmaise

 A month after Frank R. James allegedly unleashed smoke bombs and opened fire on a crowded N train near the 36th Street station in Sunset Park, he entered a plea of "not guilty," at the U.S. courthouse in Downtown Brooklyn.

Today, U.S. Marshals escorted James, who is 62, to appear at the U.S. courthouse in Downtown Brooklyn at noon, after a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment last week that charged him with committing a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system and discharging a firearm during a violent crime, according to WCBS.

Both counts carry maximum sentences of life in prison, and the firearm count requires a 10-year minimum mandatory sentence.

Since April 13, when James was apprehended in the East Village after a 30-hour citywide manhunt, the suspect has remained jailed without bail.

After appearing in court today with his lawyer and pleading “not guilty,” James is due back in court on July 25 for further proceedings.

On April 12, 10 commuters on the N train were hit with gunshots and 19 more were taken to hospitals with injuries that included smoke inhalation and shrapnel wounds, and all the victims are expected to survive.

After many New Yorkers, including James himself, called NYPD Crime Stoppers to tip the police on his whereabouts, James was arrested the next day in the East Village.

James’ lawyer at the time of his arrest is using the suspect’s admission that he was in a neighborhood McDonald’s as cause for a judge and jury “not to rush to judgement.”

Although police found that James has posted on YouTube numerous rants against people of races other than him, Mayor Adams, and mental health care in NYC, his specific motive for his horrific attack on innocent New Yorkers remains unclear.