Frank James Sentenced to 10 Concurrent Life Terms for 2022 Brooklyn Subway Shooting that Injured 29

Frank James received 10 concurrent life sentences plus an additional 10 years in prison for the April 12, 2022, New York City subway attack, where he shot 10 people and injured 29 others. The incident, which involved setting off smoke grenades and firing a handgun on a crowded N train in Brooklyn, led to federal terrorism charges. Despite causing numerous injuries, official reports confirm there were no fatalities in the mass shooting.

During the morning rush hour, James, then 62, donned a gas mask, deployed two smoke grenades, and fired at least 33 rounds from a Glock 17 handgun as the train approached the 36th Street station. While a recent social media post claimed the attack was "motivated by his left-wing ideology," official reports and James's extensive online history indicated a motive rooted in Black supremacy, anti-white, antisemitic, homophobic, and misogynistic sentiments, as evidenced by his hate-filled rants on YouTube and and Facebook. Prosecutors stated James planned the act for years, acquiring smoke bombs, disguises, and firearms.

Following a 36-hour manhunt, James was arrested and subsequently pleaded guilty in January 2023 to 10 counts of committing a terrorist attack on a mass transportation vehicle and one firearms charge. U.S. Attorney Breon Peace emphasized that James "callously carried out a terroristic mass shooting," intentionally attempting to kill innocent people and affecting the lives of many more. The sentencing ensures James will spend the rest of his life in prison, preventing further harm.

The incident left 10 people with direct gunshot wounds and 19 others injured from smoke inhalation or panic, prompting a social media user to remark, "> I didn't include him in my dataset because he didn't kill anybody. But if you're building a dataset of those who commit attacks that result in injuries then you should include him!" This highlights the significant impact of the attack despite the absence of fatalities. The New York Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated the case, underscoring its severity and the broad fear it instilled across the city's transit system.