On the morning of April 12th, a mass shooting occurred in a New York N train headed for 36th street, which resulted in the injury of over 23 people. At the time, the local police had no plausible suspect until they found an abandoned UHaul van parked Tuesday evening 5 miles from where the shooting took place. The man who rented the car was identified by police as Frank R. James.  He had rented the U-Haul van in Philadelphia and parked it five blocks from Kings Highway Station, where the gunman supposedly got onto the subway. 

Police connected him and the van because keys to the van were left on the train, along with a Glock 9-millimeter gun.  Additionally, a hatchet, fireworks, gasoline, and 3 ammunition magazines were also left on the subway. 

Earlier that day, at approximately 8:30 a.m., the gunman, who is a heavyset (weight wise), dark- skinned man in a helmet and construction mask, set off  two smoke grenades onto the floor of a New York subway train while.  wearing a gas mask.  After tossing the smoke grenades onto the floor, he fired his gun approximately 33 times into the N-train.  Over ten people were hit by gunfire, five were critically injured, and overall, 23 were injured and sent to the hospital. This made history as the worst shooting on a subway in New York City.  It caused a panic, and the neighboring schools were placed in lockdown for most of the day. 

 In a news conference, New York City Police Chief Essig said that Mr. James remains at large, and that, “’We are endeavoring to locate him to determine his connection to the subway shooting, if any”.  It appears that Mr. James  has  addresses in Philadelphia and Wisconsin, according to police.  And on social media, Mr. James posted many videos on YouTube where he criticizeds current news.  He stated in a particular video that whites are ‘genocidal’ because Russia invaded Ukraine.  In another one of his videos, he also blamed Black women for violence among Black people in general.  

It is never a good time for a shooting, but this incidentit happened while New York City is struggling over an increase in  crime , violent actions, and shootings.  There was already a decline in subway riding, and authorities predict that this horrible event will create an even bigger drop in riders.

The current mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, said that the search for the gunman  has been really difficult. At least one of the security cameras  that were supposed to monitor the 36th street subway station wereas not operating.  There was a “’malfunction with the camera system at that particular station,” Mayor Adams said.  Had these cameras worked, there would be stronger evidence against James. The authorities are offering a $50,000 reward to not only locate, but capture the gunman.