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Frank R. James Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth8 August 1959

Age62 Years

BirthplaceBronx, New York

NationalityAmerican

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyFather - Charlie Claud; Sister - Barbara Jean

Frank R. James Biography

Frank R. James, also known as Frank Whitaker, is an American from the Bronx who was identified by police as the person of interest in the April 12, 2022, N

Early life and background

Frank R. James was born on August 8, 1959, and grew up in the Bronx, New York. He is identified in public records as having the given name Frank Whitaker as an alternate name. James is American by nationality and is listed as a Leo by zodiac sign. Family details available in public reporting name his father as Charlie Claud and mention a sister, Barbara Jean.

Physical description

Public information lists his height at approximately 165 centimeters (about 5 feet 5 inches). He is described as bald with black eyes.

Career and activities

Information associated with James’s social media presence indicates he was at one time affiliated with a nonprofit called Argus Community, with a notation that he left the organization in 1979. His social profile also shows a work entry indicating employment at Lucent Technologies beginning in July 2020.

Personal life

James is described in available profiles as unmarried. He is reported to have maintained residences in Wisconsin and Philadelphia in addition to his ties to the Bronx. Some public photos attributed to his social accounts depict him consuming alcoholic beverages on social occasions and celebrating birthdays.

Career interests and preferences

Publicly available material notes an interest in boxing and names Muhammad Ali as a favored boxer. Historical preferences listed also include an admiration for the revolutionary figure Fidel Castro.

Mass shooting investigation (April 12, 2022)

On April 12, 2022, authorities investigating a shooting and incendiary attack aboard a Manhattan-bound N train in Brooklyn identified Frank R. James as a person of interest. The incident began shortly after 8:20 a.m. when smoke canisters were discharged onto a train car and shots were fired as the train approached the 36th Street station in Sunset Park. Reporting from the scene described heavy smoke inside the car and widespread panic as passengers evacuated at 36th Street and at subsequent stations, which led to additional injuries during a chaotic rush to exits.

Investigators recovered a number of items connected with the incident, including a firearm, magazines, a hatchet, gasoline, smoke canisters, fireworks, and a credit card found at the scene. The card was linked to a U-Haul rental; police later traced the vehicle to a location in Gravesend, Brooklyn. Authorities released a photograph of the suspect and publicly sought information regarding James’s whereabouts, offering a reward for tips. Law enforcement described the individual as an active shooter and stated at the time that motivation for the attack was not yet known.

Public reaction and official response

The event drew national attention. Federal and state officials were informed about the situation, and public statements expressed concern for the injured and gratitude for first responders and civilians who assisted victims. New York State leadership visited hospitals caring for the wounded and offered public remarks about the incident.

Public profile

James’s name has appeared in news coverage and official police releases related to the April 12, 2022, subway attack. His public presence is also reflected in social media entries under the name Frank Whitaker that include personal details, affiliations, and photographs.

Latest updates

As of the information compiled in these profiles, James was identified as a person of interest in connection with the Brooklyn subway incident and had residential ties to multiple states. Further developments beyond those reported in the cited material are not included here.
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Recent Work

Employment at Lucent Technologies

Listed as starting work in July 2020 on his social profile

2020
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Career Highlights

  1. Named as a person of interest by police in the April 12, 2022, attack on a New York City subway train
  2. Previously affiliated with Argus Community (left in 1979)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Frank R. James born?

8 August 1959

What is Frank R. James’s marital status?

Unmarried