New York Court Denies Parole for Subway Shooter on Commute

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] The court has ordered the suspect who indiscriminately opened fire on the subway in Brooklyn, New York during the morning commute to be detained without bail.

According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 14th (local time), Roan Mann, magistrate judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, made this decision regarding the shooter Frank James (62), who was arrested the previous day.

James, on the morning of the 12th at around 8:30 a.m., inside the N line subway train entering Brooklyn 36th Street Station, wearing a construction site safety vest, set off a smoke bomb and then indiscriminately fired at passengers. He fired at least 33 rounds toward the passengers and fled among the evacuating passengers, but was arrested the next day, the 13th, in Manhattan's East Village.

The NYT reported that approximately 30 people, including 10 who were shot, were estimated to have been injured.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York charged James with violating federal law prohibiting terrorist acts against public transportation and stated that he posed a serious ongoing threat to the community. If convicted, he faces up to life imprisonment.

Federal prosecutor Sarah Winik said, "He horrifically shot passengers on a crowded subway train, disrupting the morning commute in a way not seen in New York for over 20 years. His attack was carefully planned. It instilled fear not only in the victims but throughout our entire city." Winik requested detention until trial, citing the serious risk he poses to the community.

The public defenders did not oppose the detention request but asked for confirmation of James's mental evaluation and other assessments.

It was confirmed that James was arrested nine times in New York State between 1992 and 1998 for robbery, sex crimes, theft, and other offenses. He also had three arrests in neighboring New Jersey.

James's motive for the crime has not yet been announced. Previously, videos he posted on social media were confirmed to contain aggressive remarks about racism and homeless people.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.