Chicago Police say they're working to ensure safety on CTA following mass shooting on New York City subway

CHICAGO (CBS Chicago/CBS New York) -- Chicago Police said Tuesday that they will maintain the resources to ensure safety on the city's transit system, following a mass shooting and smoke bomb attack that left 29 people injured in the New York City subway.

"We stand with the people of New York City following this despicable act of violence. The Chicago Police Department is closely monitoring the events in New York City," Chicago Police said in a statement. "While there is no actionable intelligence at this time, CPD will maintain the appropriate resources to ensure safety on the public transit system."

The Chicago Transit Authority released a statement saying there are no threats against its system, and referred further questions to police and the Office of Emergency Management and Communications.

Metra also released this statement: "We remain as vigilant as ever about safety and security issues, and, as a precaution, we have deployed additional resources today. And we would remind and encourage our riders and the public that if they see anything or anyone suspicious to report it to Metra police at 312-322-2800 or through the Metra COPS app. If you see something, say something."

The attack in New York happened at 8:24 a.m. Eastern time on a Manhattan-bound N train in the Sunset Park community in Brooklyn.

Late Tuesday, the NYPD identified Frank James as a person of interest in the case. He remained at large.

James has addresses in Philadelphia and Wisconsin.  

Police say the train was approaching the 36th Street station when a man wearing a green utility vest strapped on a gas mask and detonated a smoke bomb inside the moving car.

"The train at that time began to fill with smoke. He then opened fire, striking multiple people on the subway and on the platform," NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said.

A total of 10 people were shot.

Josh Aryeh was on board the train when he heard gunshots.

"I just hid. I moved myself out the way. I tried to make space for this elderly lady, who even handed me her little pepper spray from her purse just in case something happened," Aryeh said. "Like, she gave it to me out of her purse and said, 'Use it, just in case.' That's how desperate people were."

Video from inside the train shows the chaos as a commuter bangs on the door of a subway car, desperately trying to escape, but the door to the next car was locked.

"There was a lot of blood trailing on the floor, and then thank goodness the train moved within a minute or I don't know what might have happened if we were stuck there for long," Aryeh said.

Investigators say the gunman, who is described as a Black male, standing 5 feet 5 inches tall with a heavy build, emptied several magazines' worth of ammunition. Police later found a Glock-like handgun inside the 36th Street station.

WCBS-TV, CBS 2 New York has learned many of the injured ran through the dark subway tunnel and came out at 25th Street.

"A lady was on the floor and blood was coming out of her leg and she was shot. People were screaming for help," witness Yahya Ibrahim said.

"There were people running out of the train station, bleeding," Ijaira Gonzalez added.

The train continued to the 25th Street station, where some of victims got off and called for help.

Police say 10 people were shot and five of them are in critical but stable condition. Others were treated for smoke inhalation and injuries from the panic that ensued.

We are told others were hurt in the panic following the shooting.

"It was fleeing and that kind of flight - mass flight - I never seen anything like that to this extreme," added witness John Ramsey.

Officials say none of the victims' injuries are life-threatening.

Investigators believe it was a coordinated attack, but the motive remains unclear. 

The suspect remained at large as of Tuesday afternoon. He was wearing a green construction-type vest and grey sweatshirt.

Police connected a U-Haul with Arizona plates to the attack. The U-Haul was located unoccupied late Tuesday afternoon, and the NYPD Bomb Squad was on the scene.

CNN reported the suspect was identified through a credit card found at the scene, which was used to rent that U-Haul.    

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is self-isolating after recently testing positive for COVID-19. He released a statement on Twitter.

"First, let me say, we're praying for all New Yorkers who were injured or affected by this attack," Adams said.

"We will not allow New Yorkers to be terrorized, even by a single individual. NYPD is searching for the suspect at large, and we will find him. But we ask the public to come forward with any information that may help us in this investigation," Adams added.

 Adams said late Tuesday that there seems to be a malfunction with the surveillance cameras at the subway station.  

Sources said cell phone video and street camera images are being fed through facial recognition software.

A gun, high-capacity magazines, fireworks, and gunpowder were all recovered at the scene, according to a CNN report. Officials said they believe the gun jammed during the shooting. 

In:
• Brooklyn
• Metropolitan Transportation Authority
• Subway
• Chicago Transit Authority
• Chicago Police Department
• New York City
• Sunset Park