NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – One of the five people shot near Monday’s West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn died, police said Tuesday as they continued to search for the gunman.
A 25-year-old man who was among two victims hospitalized in critical condition died from a gunshot wound to the abdomen, according to the NYPD. He was identified as Denzel Chan, of Spring, Texas.
Four other victims—ranging in age from 16 to 69 years old—were hospitalized in stable condition at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County with various gunshot wounds. Among them was a 36-year-old man shot in the head.
The shooting happened near Classon Avenue and Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights. Photo credit Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images The victims were shot at Eastern Parkway and Classon Avenue in Crown Heights as a man targeting a specific group of people fired into the crowd near the parade route, NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said Monday.
“This was not random,” Chell said. “This was an intentional act by one person towards a group of people. We do not by no means have any active shooter or anything of that nature running around Eastern Parkway as we speak.”
Police said the suspect is a man in his 20s with a slim build who was wearing a bandana over his face and a brown shirt covered in paint stains. No images of him have been released.
Investigators cordoned off an area adjacent to the parade route, where they placed crime scene markers. The parade continued flowing past as officers were seen bagging items for evidence.
Chell asked that bystanders provide police with any video footage they may have recorded of the shooting. “We need that video,” he said. “We are going to solve this, but it’s going to take a lot of work.”
In addition to the shooting, there was also a slashing around 7:20 p.m. Monday along the parade route.
Police said a man was slashed in the head and wrist at Franklin Avenue and Eastern Parkway, not far from the shooting scene. He was hospitalized in stable condition.
The parade continued past the shooting scene on Monday. Photo credit Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images In a statement, Mayor Eric Adams said the shooter had marred “a joyous event that celebrates the multitude of culture and diversity in our city.”
“Instead of allowing all to enjoy a momentous occasion for our city, a gunman turned today’s celebration into tragedy when he senselessly fired into the crowd, hitting multiple revelers,” the mayor said in a statement.
Hundreds of thousands of people attend the annual parade—now in its 57th year—transforming a nearly two-mile route from Crown Heights to the Brooklyn Museum into a kaleidoscope of feathered costumes and colorful flags set to soca and reggae music.
However, acts of violence has also been an issue at the parade over the years. In 2016, two people were killed and several others were wounded near the parade route. The year before, Carey Gabay, an aide to then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo was shot in the head during pre-parade festivities. He died nine days later.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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