Brooklyn leaders and elected officials are condemning the gun violence that marred the close of the West Indian Day Parade on Monday, urging stronger measures to prevent similar incidents at future city events.
“After a day of celebration for the community and city, the plague of gun violence struck,” Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said Tuesday. “The best way to prevent that violence is to stop someone from picking up a gun in the first place, in part by strongly limiting access to these weapons of war.”
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According to the NYPD, seven people were wounded in four separate incidents near the parade route along Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights. All are expected to survive. Police said the first shooting happened shortly after 5:30 p.m., just after the parade’s final float had passed. A man was arrested in connection with a shooting that injured a 53-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman.
The West Indian Day Parade, a vibrant celebration of Caribbean culture and heritage, typically draws hundreds of thousands of spectators to Central Brooklyn, alongside a weekend of parties, cookouts, and music. But in recent years, the festivities have too often been shadowed by violence. Last year, a 25-year-old man was fatally shot and several others wounded in incidents tied to the celebrations.
Pastor Gilford Monrose, faith adviser to Mayor Eric Adams, said despite Monday evening’s incidents, the weekend was largely peaceful. Still, he condemned those who brought weapons to the parade. “We can’t sugarcoat what they’re doing,” Monrose said. “What they’re doing is not just normal violence. What they’re doing is causing terrorism on a community that is beloved and enjoying their culture.”
In a statement, the NYPD acknowledged the “tough end to Labor Day weekend” but pointed to broader progress, noting that citywide gun violence is at its lowest recorded level in decades for the first eight months of the year. The department said it continues to focus on removing illegal firearms, targeting gang activity, and deploying resources based on safety data.
Residents near the parade route expressed disappointment over the shootings but said the day overall felt safe. “Yesterday it was really pretty chill, really relaxed,” said Ricardo Lima, who lives a block from Eastern Parkway. “In general it’s pretty safe here—everyone is rather neighborly, even when it’s loud.”
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who joined the festivities, said the violence was heartbreaking against the backdrop of such a spirited cultural celebration. “It breaks my heart to see violence take place on a day meant to uplift the joy of community and the beauty of our cultures,” he said.
