Frank R. James, ID'd as New York subway shooting suspect, previously lived in Uptown SRO hotel
James was evicted from Aragon Arms Hotel in 2017
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The man identified Wednesday as a suspect in the New York subway shooting previously lived in Chicago.
The ABC7 I-Team has learned Frank James, 62, lived in a single-room occupancy hotel in the Uptown neighborhood on Chicago's North Side for two years, beginning in 2015.
While authorities confirm he was evicted from the Aragon Arms Hotel in March 2017, there is no paperwork stating why. No residents who lived here then still reside at the building.
Chicago police were seen canvassing the building and another in the area Wednesday morning to see if anyone knew him.
SEE ALSO: Brooklyn subway shooting suspect Frank R. James in custody
James had no criminal cases when he lived here, according to a check of city, county and state files.
James also lived in Wisconsin for several years in an apartment in Milwaukee. Most recently, his name was still on a note to forward the mail.
SEE ALSO: What we know about Brooklyn subway shooting suspect Frank R. James
Even his purchase of a gun in 2011 from a Columbus, Ohio gun dealer was perfectly legal, according to authorities, because he had no felony record.
The FBI pointed to a partially scratched-out serial number, perhaps in an effort to prevent the Glock pistol from being traced. It didn't work.
After authorities say James set off a smoke bomb in a New York City subway car yesterday morning, then opened fire wounding ten people, they were able to trace the gun left behind to James.
Also left behind was his backpack containing some fireworks. Investigators say they determined James bought the fireworks and the smoke grenades at a southern Wisconsin fireworks store last June.
He was seen on closed circuit TV Wednesday morning near the subway station with the equipment he allegedly used in the attack.
