Three New York men are being hailed as heroes this morning after helping police apprehend the suspect in Tuesday’s subway attack.
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Zach Tahhan, a 21-year-old New Jersey resident who came to the United States from Syria five years ago, works for MACA Security Integrations. He was fixing a security camera at Saifee Hardware when he spotted Frank R. James. Tahhan, one of his co-workers, and Saifee manager Francisco Puebla spotted James on the block, and the three men worked together to get the attention of authorities.
“I see the guy, he walking, from the screen I see him from the cameras, so I go ‘Oh, shit, that’s the guy, let me call the police,’” Tahhan said to one witness who posted his statement to social media.
Thank you, Zack! You’re a hero with those fast reflexes. #brooklyn #brooklynshooter #nyc #eastvillage pic.twitter.com/Iy60dsJda0
— Samantha Zirkin (@SamanthaZirkin) April 13, 2022
Tahhan then went outside, where he saw James, who’d been walking in the vicinity of St. Mark’s Place in the East Village, suddenly stop and drop a bag down into the street. According to Tahhan, there were around seven other people in the vicinity.
“I say to the people, ‘Guys, please!’ The people was walking behind him. I go, ‘Guys, keep far from him, please, this guy is going to do something,’” Tahhan said. “People think I am crazy. Like, nobody tries to believe me. I tell them, ‘Guys, trust me, this guy, this is the guy.”
Zack Dahnan, the 21-year old security camera installer who first spotted the suspected subway shooter in the East Village, is holding an impromptu press conference on 1st Avenue. He says news of the presser left him unable to sleep. pic.twitter.com/5j3DrFqnMx
— Jake Offenhartz (@jangelooff) April 13, 2022
Fortunately, police soon arrived on the scene and arrested James.
James is the man authorities believe opened fire on a subway in Brooklyn during Tuesday’s morning commute, after releasing smoke bombs on the crowded train. Ten people were hit by bullets, with numerous others reporting injuries related to the mayhem. None of the injuries are life-threatening.
Police had already been in the area of St. Mark’s after receiving a tip-off from the suspect himself, who wanted to turn himself in. He told authorities what he was wearing, and said that he would be in the vicinity of a nearby McDonald’s.
The motive behind the assault, and James’ decision to turn himself in, remains unknown at this time.
Although authorities have not confirmed that Tahhan and the other men’s actions led to James’ capture, that hasn’t stopped some New Yorkers and admirers on social media from hailing them as a heroes for their quick-thinking.
“Thank you, Zack!” wrote Samantha Zirkin, who posted a video of Tahhan’s testimony to her Twitter account. “You’re a hero with those fast reflexes.”
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