Mayor Eric Adams honored the front-line workers of the Sunset Park subway shooting in a ceremony at City Hall Friday morning.
The mayor thanked the MTA workers for their heroic efforts in the 36th Street subway station virtually, as he continues to work remotely while isolating following a positive COVID test.
Members of the Transport Workers Union highlighted the photo showing N train operator David Artis standing in the middle of the chaos following the attack as he directed riders to safety aboard an R train across the platform. The ceremony also honored the train operator and conductor on the R train who helped evacuated riders to the 25th Street Station and an bus operator who helped stranded riders out of the scene. They were awarded proclamations for their actions.
N train conductor Raven Haynes said she was not worried for her own safety amid the violence.
"My whole point was making sure that my riders were OK. At no point did I think about my own personal safety, I just wanted to make sure my passengers were safe, they were calm and they physically got out of the area as quickly and safely as possibly without adding onto additional chaos.
said Haynes.
The ceremony came the day after Frank James, the man accused of shooting 10 commuters on an N train Tuesday morning and leaving more than a dozen others injured, was ordered
to be held without bail in federal court.
James, 62, fired off at least 33 bullets and set off smoke grenades as he donned a gas mask and construction vest, with the shooting victims' ages ranging from 16 to 60 years old.
He
was arrested Wednesday in the East Village after he called a police tip line to tell authorities where he was, and has been charged with terrorist attacks or other violence on mass transit.
U.S. attorneys say James committed "a heinous and premeditated attack" on ordinary New Yorkers during their morning commute.
As chaos ensued in the subway station and commuters exited the train, quick-thinking transit workers directed riders to flee on the R train across the platform for safety, transit officials say, while other MTA workers tried to prevent riders from panicking.
If convicted, James could be sentenced to life in prison.