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'You’re looking for me': Brooklyn gunman Frank James ARRESTED after he tipped cops about himself

'You know I think you’re looking for me. I’m seeing my picture all over the news and I’ll be around this McDonalds…' Frank James told the cops

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: Frank James, the man who was named a 'person of interest' by New York City police in the shooting aboard a subway train in Brooklyn on Tuesday, April 12, called cops on himself on Wednesday morning, April 13. He then reportedly went for an afternoon walk through the East Village and waited for police to come nab him. Ten people were shot and 19 injured after James threw two smoke canisters and also opened fire aboard a subway car on the N train while it was approaching the 36th Street Station in Brooklyn.

“A call came into Crime Stoppers … The guy says, ‘You know I think you’re looking for me. I’m seeing my picture all over the news and I’ll be around this McDonalds… I want to clear things up,’” law-enforcement sources told New York Post. “So the unit responds and he’s not at the McDonalds so they start driving around and see a man who fits the description. When they take him into custody they find his Wisconsin driver’s license.”

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A couple of New Yorkers also alerted police when they saw James strolling through the East Village. He reportedly stopped for a while at an outdoor dining, charging his phone at a Link NYC hub. The NYPD nabbed him soon after. “I’m Frank, I’m the person you’re looking for. I’m surprised it took so long,” James told police while being arrested. James, 62, is facing one felony charge for committing a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system. If convicted, he could end up in prison for life.

“My fellow New Yorkers. We got him, we got him. I cannot thank the men and women of the New York City Police Department enough, as well as our federal agents, our state police, our first responders —  from the 911 operators, to the various men and women from our medical professionals. We got him,” Mayor Eric Adams said at a press conference. “I said to New Yorkers: We’re going to protect the people of this city and apprehend those who believe they can bring terror to everyday New Yorkers and I want to thank every day New Yorkers who called in tips, who responded, who helped those passengers who were injured. Thirty-three shots, but less than 30 hours later, we’re able to say we got him.”

At a news conference on April 12, New York Police Chief of Detectives James W. Essig said that the keys of a U-Haul van that James rented were found at the scene of the shooting in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park neighborhood. "We are looking for Frank James," he had said. "We know he rented that U-Haul van."

James had allegedly railed against Mayor Adams and made threatening rants on social media. “Mr. Mayor, I’m a victim of your mental health program,” James had said in a video. “I’m 63 now full of hate, full of anger, and full of bitterness.” He also accused Adams for not doing enough to combat homelessness. “Eric Adams, Eric Adams: What are you doing brother? What’s happening with this homeless situation,” he said while referring to the subway. “Every car I went to was loaded with homeless people. It was so bad I couldn’t even stand. I had to keep moving from car to car.” James said that the only options he could find was to commit more violence or become a criminal. “And so the message to me is: I should have gotten a gun, and just started shooting motherf—ers,” he said. “Or I should have gotten some dope and started shooting or starting hitting bit–es in the head, robbing old ladies, you know what the fu– it is.”

A search warrant was conducted at a storage unit registered to James in Philadelphia shortly after the attack. Federal agents found cache of weapons and ammunition capable of committing mass carnage. The Airbnb he was staying at was also raided, where officials found a Glock handgun, a taser, a high-capacity rifle magazine and a blue smoke canister.

“My office is prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that… James did knowingly and without lawful authority and permission commit an act, including the use of a dangerous weapon, with the intent to cause death and serious bodily injury to passengers and MTA employees on the New York City subway system,” US Attorney Breon Peace said, announcing the charge against James. “My office will use every tool at our disposal to bring this individual to justice, and restore safety and peace of mind to all.”