Frank James pleaded not guilty or not guilty in court 2:46
(CNN) — The suspect in the Brooklyn subway shooting appeared Thursday in federal court for his first appearance, in which he pleaded neither guilty nor not guilty and was determined to be held without bail.
Frank James was charged in federal court in Brooklyn with violating a law prohibiting acts of terrorism and other violent attacks on a mass transit system.
Federal defense attorneys assigned to James approved his pre-trial detention but reserved the right to change their position later.
Defense attorneys also demanded a psychiatric evaluation for their client, but only for medical purposes.
This is not for assessing intellectual competency, but for assessing a possible medical need.
New York City police and law enforcement officials lead suspect in subway shooting, Frank R. James. (Credit: Seth Wenig/AP)
Defense attorneys also specifically requested magnesium tablets for the suspect’s calf cramps.
The suspect wore a khaki prison uniform and a blue surgical mask when he appeared in federal court.
James once spoke up when asked if he’d seen the complaint, only to admit he’d seen it.
The prosecutor told the investigating judge that the suspect had “disturbed the transportation system in a way that hasn’t happened in this city for 20 years.”
“In this case, the suspect opened fire on passengers on a crowded subway train in a frightening manner,” prosecutor Sara Winick said. He described the attack as “premeditated and carefully planned” and described as causing “terror”.
With information from Mark Morales.