This week, New York City police reported that a shooting at the West Indian American Day parade has resulted in one fatality, with a 25-year-old victim confirmed dead.
According to a press release from the New York Police Department (NYPD) on Tuesday, the shooting took place during the parade in Brooklyn on Labor Day. Authorities revealed that the suspected shooter opened fire, injuring four additional individuals whose ages range from 16 to 69. Currently, these victims are hospitalized.
As of now, no suspects are in custody, and the investigation is ongoing. A police spokesperson shared that the shooter appeared to have targeted a specific group.
NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell emphasized that, “This was not random,” referring to the shooting as an “intentional act by one person towards a group of people.”
AP Photo/Andres Kudacki/AP Photo/Andres Kudacki
The West Indian Day parade, which is celebrated along Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway, is known for its vibrant costumes, colorful flags, and lively floats filled with soca and reggae music. The event attracts many local politicians, especially those with Caribbean roots.
Among the attendees was Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who was participating in the parade when the shooting occurred. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), he expressed his sorrow about the incident: “I’m pained and troubled by the horrible shooting that took place as we were marching together at the West Indian Day Festival and Parade in Brooklyn. Thank you to our first responders on the scene. I pray for everyone affected. We must keep working to end gun violence in America.”
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.