Suspect Identified in Brooklyn Subway Mass Shooting

The U-Haul van with Arizona license plates being sought by authorities in connection with a Brooklyn subway attack that injured at least 28 people, including 10 who were shot, has been found.

The vehicle was found in the Gravesend neighborhood, just over five miles from where a gunman opened fire at the 36th Street station. A bomb squad was en route to the scene, The Associated Press reported.

The suspected gunman has not been found and a manhunt is underway. 

Authorities released the name of a person of interest in the Brooklyn subway attack on Tuesday. They identified him as Frank James during an evening news briefing. 

NYPD officials said they were looking for him to determine his connection to the attack that injured 28 people, including 10 people shot.

“We are looking to determine if he has any connection” to the attack,” NYPD Chief of Detectives, James Essig, said.

He said James has addressed in Wisconsin and Philadelphia. Investigators were sure of his ties to New York City.

A $50,000 reward is being offered for information regarding the shooting.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams told local affiliate FOX 5 New York on Tuesday that investigators are pursuing “several leads” and feel confident that they will make an arrest.

“We’re unsure of the motive or exactly where he came from, but we are carrying through on several leads,” Adams said. “We feel confident that we’re going to apprehend this person.”

Adams would not answer additional questions surrounding the U-Haul van that was found about 5 miles away from the crime scene and is alleged to be linked to the suspect. He also wouldn’t say whether the suspect is believed to be a New Yorker or from out of state.

Asked about surveillance footage from inside the subway station that malfunctioned, Adams said he does not yet know what happened, but added: “We’re looking into it … We’re still trying to identify exactly what happened with the video feed at the location.”

President Biden addressed the Brooklyn subway attack on Tuesday, saying “we’re not letting up on it” until the perpetrator is found.

He said the White House has been in touch with Mayor Eric Adams and New York Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell regarding the shooting of a subway train in which at least 28 people were injured, including 10 people shot.

The Justice Department and FBI are working with the NYPD on the ground he said.

“My wife Jill and I are praying for those who are injured, all those touched by that trauma, and we’re grateful for all of the first responders who jumped in action, including civilians who didn’t hesitate to help their fellow passengers and try to shield them,” Biden said.      

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in Washington D.C., said there was no known or credible threat to operations Tuesday following events in New York City where a gunman shot at least 10 people on a train in a Brooklyn subway station.

“We are monitoring the developing situation in New York. There is no known, specific or credible threat to Metro at this time,” the agency said in a statement to Fox News affiliate WTTG-TV. “Additional K-9 sweeps and patrols are being implemented in the system as a precaution.” 

The Los Angeles Police Department said it was also monitoring the situation. The LAPD said it was in contact with local, state and federal officials and was providing high visibility patrols throughout the city, including bus and rail stations. 

At least 28 people were injured, including the 10 people shot, when a suspect opened fire inside a Manhattan-bound N train. A manhunt for the shooter is ongoing.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) also said it wasn’t aware of any threats to its operations.

“While there is no actionable intelligence at this time, CPD will maintain the appropriate resources to ensure safety on the public transit system,” a Chicago police spokesman said in a statement to WFLD-TV.

“The fact that he used what’s described as gas canisters, to me, is significant, because they’re not readily available,” Former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly told Fox News Digital. “You’re going to look and see who manufactures them, who they sell to in New York.”

He added: “This is a big onion that you have to peel … Issues such as have crimes committed in New York City recently with people using smoke or smoke grenades, smoke canisters.

These are the types of things that are being asked of the agency itself.Kelly was the first person to serve two terms at the helm of the New York Police Department. His first term was from 1992 to 1994, and he returned to the role in 2002.

He is also a United States Marine Corps veteran and served as commissioner of the U.S. Customs Service, which has since been separated into Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Kelly also predicted that the NYPD’s tip-line would play a “significant” role.

“
I think the 1-800-577-TIPS hotline is going to be significant in this in this case,” he said. “We don’t know what people saw in the vicinity of the subway station, or perhaps other people traveling on the train who didn’t talking to police are now willing to talk to the police. So, I think the hotline is going to clean that up quite a bit, but we’ll have to see.”

A senior law enforcement source confirmed that surveillance cameras in the Brooklyn subway station where a gunman shot at least 10 people on Tuesday were not operable. 

“We’re unclear if it was the feed or the actual device itself,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams told MSNBC. “We’re communicating with the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) and they have been extremely collaborative in trying to find out exactly what happened. We have these cameras in the subway for a reason to deal with attacks of this nature, so we could readily identify and apprehend people.“

“And we’re looking to find out exactly what took place here, and we will ask you to do an overview of all of the systems so we can identify it,” he added. “Are there other cameras that are out.”

Authorities were able to get an image of the gunman from a bystander’s cell phone, the source said. 

In addition, the handgun used by the suspect jammed at some point and authorities found extended magazines at the scene, according to the source. Authorities also found canisters inside a bag. 

Authorities are searching for a U-Haul van with Arizona license plates in connection with the shooting. It was not clear if the vehicle was rented in New York City or Arizona. 

The suspect in connection with a shooting at a Brooklyn subway station has not been identified and a manhunt is ongoing.

“Law enforcement has alerted us to its search for a rental van and its possible connection to a suspect in today’s incident in New York City,” Sebastien Reyes, U-Haul vice president of communications, said in a statement. “We are working closely with authorities to ensure they have any and all available information to meet their needs.”

A majority of New York City public schools have lifted a shelter-in-place order enacted after at least 28 people were injured during a Brooklyn subway shooting Tuesday morning, David Banks, the chancellor of the city’s Department of Education said.

The order remains in place for schools near the scene of the gunfire.

“All students inside their school remain in a safe, caring, and supportive environment,” Banks tweeted.

Parents should contact schools for information on dismissals or if they have questions.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams appeared virtually on CNN following the NYPD’s press conference. He reiterated that investigators do not have a positive identification of the suspect at this time. He also responded to Sewell’s statement that the case “is not being investigated as an act of terrorism at this time.”

“It’s a preliminary investigation. This is terror — of someone attempted to terrorize our system,” Adams told CNN host Dana Bash. “They brought in what appears to be some form of smoke device. They discharged a weapon. And so, I don’t want to be premature in justifying that this was/was not. I think at this time, the investigators are going to do their due diligence to properly identify what happened here.”

He added: “I think at this time, it’s premature to say exactly, what happened here is still new.”

Adams remains in isolation as he recovers from COVID.

Local hospitals are now reporting a total of 28 victims, including 10 who suffered gunshot wounds and five who are in critical, but stable condition.

Mayor Adams released a video statement on Tuesday, describing how the suspect “detonated smoke bombs to cause havoc.”

“First, let me say we’re praying for all New Yorkers who were injured or affected by today’s attack. So far, we know that we have a multiple number of injuries, including victims of gunshot wounds,” he said.

Adams is currently in isolation while he recovers from COVID.

“I wish to thank all of the first responders who responded to the scene or at the local hospitals, helping with today’s incident. You are what make New York the greatest city in the world, and I thank you for supporting your fellow New Yorkers,” he said. “We will not allow New Yorkers to be terrorized even by a single individual.”

Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul responded to the Tuesday mass shooting in Brooklyn, saying “We are sick and tired of reading headlines about crime.”

Hochul made the statement during a press briefing alongside law enforcement officers, hours after a lone gunman injured at least 16 people with gunfire and explosives at a Brooklyn subway station. Hochul took the opportunity to address not just the shooting, but the spike in crime generally across her state.

“The people of the entire state of New York stand with the people of this city and this community, and we say ‘No more,'” Hochul said. “No more mass shootings; no more disrupting lives; no more creating heartbreak for people just trying to live their lives as normal New Yorkers.”

Read more here.

This photo provided by Will B Wylde shows a person being aided in a subway car in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Tuesday, April 12, 2022.

The NYPD initially responded to reports of four undetonated devices inside the New York City subway stations, but investigators have since confirmed that any reports of explosives were unfounded, a spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

This photo provided by Will B Wylde,  a person is aided outside a subway car in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. A gunman filled a rush-hour subway train with smoke and shot multiple people Tuesday, leaving wounded commuters bleeding on a Brooklyn platform as others ran screaming, authorities said. Police were still searching for the suspect.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Asked during Tuesday afternoon’s press conference, if they know the identity of the suspect or his motive, Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell responded: “We do not know the motive at this time, but we’re not ruling anything out.”

She later added: “We’re determining what the motive is and we’ll find that out as an investigation continues to.”

Asked if the victims were largely of the same ethnic group, Sewell said no.

Speaking to reporters during Tuesday morning’s press conference, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said New Yorkers’ “tranquility and normalness was disrupted.”

“Greatly disrupted by an individual so cold-hearted and depraved of heart that they had no caring about the individuals that they assaulted as they simply went about their daily lives.”

She added: “This individual is still on the loose. This person is dangerous. We’re asking individuals to be very vigilant and alert.”

Acting FDNY commissioner Laura Kavanagh tells reporters 10 patients suffered gunshot wounds, 16 total patients were injured. Five victims were reported to be in critical, but stable condition.

Other victims suffered smoke inhalation or were injured by shrapnel, Kavanagh said

Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell says the subway incident is not being investigated as. an act of terror and none of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries.

At about 8:24 a.m., Sewell said, “as a Manhattan-bound train waited to enter the 30th Street station, an individual on that train donned what appeared to be a gas mask. He then took a canister out of his bag and opened it. The train at that time began to fill with smoke.”

The top cop went on: “He then opened fire, striking multiple people on the subway and in the platform.”

Sewell described the suspect as a Black male, approximately 5-foot-5 tall with a heavy build, wearing a “green construction-type vest and a hooded sweatshirt” with a gray collar.

NYPD executives, including Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, are providing an update regarding the ongoing Brooklyn subway station investigation.

The NYPD will hold a press conference at the scene around 11:30 a.m. ET, with details provided by Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, among other department executives.

Meanwhile, witnesses are recounting the moments chaos unfolded at  Brooklyn subway stations on Tuesday morning.

Bloody images emerge from inside smoke-filled Brooklyn subway station as a manhunt continues.

New York Sen. Schumer says he is “praying for all the victims, their families, all those impacted.”

A manhunt is underway for a suspect in connection with the shooting and undetonated devices discovered in Brooklyn this morning.

The NYPD says none of the devices are active and is asking anyone with information related to the investigation to call 800-577-TIPS.

The New York City Department of Education has confirmed local schools are sheltering in place as a manhunt remains underway.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki says President Biden has been briefed on the ongoing situation in Brooklyn, where at least 13 people are reported to have been shot or injured.

“White House senior staff are in touch with Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner Sewell to offer any assistance as needed,” Psaki wrote.

READ MORE:
Biden briefed on Brooklyn subway shooting

Agents from the FBI are responding to the Brooklyn subway station amid an active manhunt for the suspect, who remains on the loose. The NYPD remains the lead agency leading the investigation.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has received a preliminary briefing and is monitoring the situation in Brooklyn, a DOJ source confirmed to Fox News’ Jake Gibson.

An NYPD source tells Fox News’ Marta Dhanis there are no known “active devices” at the moment.

Police are asking any witnesses to call 800-577-TIPS.

A law enforcement source tells Fox News Digital the suspect is wearing an orange construction vest. Sources initially reported the suspect, a Black male, was wearing what was believed to be an MTA uniform.  He was also last seen in a gas mask and “carrying a bookbag.”

NYPD Counterterrorism units are responding to the scene, while additional units, including police K9s and heavy weaponry, have been deployed to subway stations around New York City, a high-ranking law enforcement source tells Fox News Digital.

The New York Police Department confirmed that a shooting took place at a Brooklyn subway station Tuesday morning during peak commuting hours for employees headed into Manhattan. 

An NYPD spokeswoman confirmed to Fox News Digital that a shooting took place at the 36th St. station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, but she did not immediately have information on how many people were wounded and whether a suspect had been taken into custody. 

FDNY told Fox News that firefighters responded to a call for smoke in the D-N-R lines. Upon arrival, units discover multiple people shot and several undetonated devices at the same location. It continues to be an active scene.

Read more here.