New York City celebrated a new hero on Wednesday: a 21-year-old Syrian who moved to the United States five years ago, speaks five languages and lives in Jersey City.
The man, Zach Tahhan, a security camera technician whose name has been spelled variously on social media, said he was updating equipment at a store near St. Marks Place and First Avenue in Manhattan’s East Village. when he saw Frank R. James through one of the security cameras.
in a makeshift press conference to a crowd of reporters and bystanders on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Tahhan: “I thought, ‘Oh my god, this is the man, we need to get him.’ He was walking down the street, I see the police car, I said, ‘Yo, this is the man!’”
Mr Tahhan said he ran into the street, followed the suspect and warned those around him to keep their distance. “People think I’m crazy, like maybe I’m on drugs. But I am not. I am fasting,” he said, referring to his observation of Ramadan.
Police received a tip that Mr James had been to a McDonald’s not quite two blocks away and was looking for him in the area. Two law enforcement officers with knowledge of the investigation said it appeared that Mr James himself had called the tip line.
Police have not yet confirmed whether Mr Tahhan’s action led to Mr James’ arrest.
But Mr. Tahhan’s cheerful demeanor and charismatic energy made him a social media sensation. There is now a hashtag #ThankYouZack trending people use to share clips and videos from his press conference.
Others also claim a role in directing the police to Mr. James, which entails a $50,000 reward.
In an interview, Francisco Puebla, manager of Saifee, a hardware and garden store on First Avenue on Seventh Street, took a tentative dig at Mr. Tahhan, whom he had hired to help. upgrade the store’s security camera system.
“He’s all over social media,” said Mr Puebla, 46, throwing his arms out in a gesture that apparently signified greatness. “But I’m the one who took action.”
Mr. Puebla said he saw a burly man with a backpack walking slowly down First Avenue. He felt panic, he said, and was afraid to call the police because he didn’t want to be wrong. “I don’t want to get anyone in trouble,” said Mr. Puebla.
But then a police car happened to stop in front of the red light on the corner. Mr. Puebla said, he walked over, waved and said, “Police officer, I could be wrong, but the man who did the shooting is right in the middle of the block.”
Moments later, several police cars converged on Mr. James, just north.
A New York portrait painter, Lee Vasu, also said he alerted the police.
Vasu told website Artnet that he saw the suspect walking after lunch at Cafe Mogador on St. Marks Place near First Avenue, with his mother, wife and 8-month-old daughter. mr. Vasu said he went to a police car parked on First Avenue to locate Mr. James, and within seconds police cars were arriving from all directions.
Sean Piccoli contributed to the reporting from New York.
