Five people were shot at a parade in Brooklyn, New York, on Monday when a man began firing into the crowd of the West Indian American Day festival parade. The incident left two individuals in critical condition.
NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell addressed the media following the shooting, condemning the act of violence. He stated, 'One person intentionally going after a group of people tried to ruin the day for everybody, and we’re not going to let that happen.'
According to Chell, four of the victims were men, and one was a woman. Two of the injured individuals are currently in critical condition, while the other three are expected to survive.
Despite the shooting, Chell confirmed that there was no active shooter, and the parade continued as planned. He praised the efforts of law enforcement in ensuring the safety of the community during the event.
The suspect, described as a Black man in his 20s with a slim build, remains at large. He was reportedly wearing a black shirt with paint stains and a black bandanna at the time of the incident.
While the motive behind the shooting remains unknown, Chell stated that the police believe it was 'not random.'
The West Indian American Day festival parade, which celebrates Caribbean heritage and culture, drew thousands of attendees along the parade route. Witness Jalissa Bailey expressed shock and sadness over the incident, highlighting the vulnerability of the diverse crowd that included individuals of all ages.
Although the parade has had a history of violence, recent years had seen a more peaceful atmosphere. Bailey and others had hoped that the increased security measures in place would prevent such incidents from occurring.
