Five people were shot during New York City's West Indian American Day Parade on Monday, marking another violent incident in one of the world's biggest celebrations of Caribbean culture. The gunman targeted a specific group along the parade route in Brooklyn at approximately 2:35pm, according to NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell. Two victims were critically injured; the other three are expected to survive. The suspect fled the scene.
"This was not random," emphasized Chell, describing the shooting as an intentional act. "We do not ... have any active shooter or anything of that nature running around Eastern Parkway as we speak. The parade is going on and will go on until later on tonight.." An AP videographer reported seeing two individuals treated for facial and arm injuries shortly after the shooting.
Among those participating in the parade was Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who completed the route without incident. Police cordoned off the area and placed crime scene markers while continuing to gather evidence. Chell urged bystanders to provide any video footage, stating, "We need that video... it's going to take a lot of work."
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The annual Labor Day parade, now in its 57th year, transforms Eastern Parkway with elaborate costumes and vibrant Caribbean music. While it attracts significant crowds and notable local politicians, it has also been marred by violence over the years. In past incidents, two people were killed in 2016, and an aide to then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo was fatally shot in 2015. Brooklyn has hosted the event since the 1960s. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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