Man pleads not guilty to terrorism, other charges in NYC subway train shooting

Frank James entered the plea in federal courtroom in Brooklyn, the place U.S, District Decide William F. Kuntz started the continuing by asking James, “How are you doing at the moment?”

“Fairly good,” James responded.

Requested about his instructional background, James mentioned he attended public faculties within the Bronx earlier than incomes a GED. He mentioned he additionally attended some commerce faculties.

James, 62, is dealing with fees of committing a terrorist assault or different violence in opposition to a mass transportation system and discharging a firearm throughout a violent crime. Each counts carry a most sentence of life in jail.

The defendant was arrested April 13, about 30 hours after authorities say he drove from Philadelphia and unleashed smoke bombs and dozens of bullets in a prepare stuffed with morning commuters because it approached a Brooklyn station. The capturing victims ranged in age from 16 to 60; all survived.

Authorities mentioned James’s financial institution card, cellphone and a key to a van he had rented had been discovered on the capturing scene. Police additionally mentioned they discovered the 9mm Glock semiautomatic handgun used within the capturing and traced it to James.

Protection lawyer Mia Eisner-Grynberg had cautioned at on the time of James’ arrest to not rush to judgment and famous that James alerted police to his whereabouts. He was arrested in Manhattan’s East Village after he known as a tip line saying he was at a quick meals restaurant in that part of town.

Eisner-Grynberg declined remark outdoors courtroom Friday.

A motive for the assault is unclear. In quite a few rants he posted on YouTube, James, who’s Black, made bigoted remarks about folks of assorted backgrounds and railed in opposition to New York Mayor Eric Adams and complained about psychological well being care he acquired within the metropolis years in the past.

James, who’s being held with out bail, is due again in courtroom July 25.