Accused NYC subway shooter Frank James faces upgraded terrorism expenses

Costs towards accused subway gunman Frank James have been upgraded, and maintain him accountable as a terrorist for every of the ten individuals shot in April on a Brooklyn practice.

A brand new federal courtroom indictment expenses James, 63, with 10 counts — one for every gunshot sufferer — of committing a terrorist assault or different violence towards a mass transportation system and automobile carrying passengers and staff, based on the U.S. Legal professional’s workplace.

The brand new superseding indictment, which identifies every of the gunshot victims by their initials, additionally provides an eleventh rely for discharging a firearm throughout a criminal offense of violence.

Every cost towards James carries the potential of life in jail.

He was beforehand charged with a single terrorism offense to which he pleaded not responsible.

James “terrifyingly opened hearth on passengers on a crowded subway practice, interrupting their morning commute in a approach this metropolis hasn’t seen in additional than 20 years,” assistant U.S. Legal professional Sara Winik mentioned when James first appeared in Brooklyn federal courtroom.

“The defendant’s assault was premeditated; it was rigorously deliberate; and it induced terror among the many victims and our complete metropolis.”

The upgraded expenses have been revealed a day after a report from the MTA Inspector Normal about surveillance cameras within the thirty sixth St. station the place the assault occurred on April 12.

The cameras have been damaged for 4 days previous to the assault, the report mentioned.

The investigation additionally discovered the outage was not intentional, however the cameras weren’t fastened as a result of restricted staffing and insufficient coaching.

Cops saide James boarded a packed N practice, set off a smoke bomb and fired a gun 33 occasions, putting 10 individuals because the practice pulled into the thirty sixth St. station in Sundown Park that morning.

James was arrested the following day after an intense manhunt.

Within the final month, whereas being held on the Metropolitan Detention Heart in Brooklyn, James has requested his trial be moved to Chicago, claiming he can’t get a good shake in New York and the choose in his case signed an order saying James may be hauled to courtroom by drive if needed, after the terrorism suspect tried to dodge an October look.

James’ trial is slated to start as quickly as Feb. 27.