NYC subway shooter pleads GUILTY to terror counts trends now
Frank James, who opened fire on a crowded New York City train in one of the worst attacks on the subway systems in years, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to terrorism charges in connection with the April shooting.
James, 63, admitted in Brooklyn federal court to pulling the trigger on the northbound N train traveling through Sunset Park, Brooklyn on April 12, shooting 10 people and injured another 23.
No one was killed in the incident, but the unprecedented attack shocked many in the city and set-off a 24-hour manhunt before James called the police on himself and was arrested in Manhattan.
His lawyers wrote in court documents last month that James planned to plead guilty to all 11 terror counts against him without a plea deal. He now faces up to life in prison for the attack.
Frank James, who has been accused of carrying out the worst attack on a New York subway system in years, pleaded guilty to terrorism charges on Tuesday
James was charged with a federal terrorism offense over claims he opened fire on a packed subway train in Brooklyn April 13
Prosecutors have asked federal Judge William Kuntz II to sentence James to more than 40 years in prison for the attack.
They wrote in a letter last week that he should be imprisoned beyond the roughly 32-year to 29-year sentence that federal guidelines recommend, arguing that James planned the attack for years and endangered the lives of dozens of people, FOX 5 reports.
James 'terrifyingly opened fire on passengers on a crowded subway train, interrupting their morning commute in a way this City hasn't seen in more than 20 years,' assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Winik said when James first appeared in court.
'The defendant's attack was premeditated, it was carefully planned, and it caused terror among the victims and our entire city.'
Prosecutors also suggested in court documents that James had the means to carry out more attacks.
He was previously charged with a single terrorism offense to which he pleaded not guilty, but the charges against him were later upgraded.
Ten of the charges he pleaded guilty to on Tuesday — one for each victim — accuse him of committing a terrorist attack on a mass transportation system.
The 11th charge accuses James of discharging a firearm in a violent crime.
James was set to face trial in February on these charges, but his attorneys wrote in court documents on December 21 that he will plead guilty.
Kuntz had since issued an order instructing the US Marshals Service to use 'all necessary force' to ensure James to show up for the plea proceeding on Tuesday, noting that he failed to show up for previous hearings.
In October, for example, the gunman balked at being brought to the Brooklyn federal court, but appeared later in the day after Kuntz issued a similar order.
Frantic commuters were seen trying to run for the exits after James opened fire at a
