'I was close to death': Spectator on West Indian Day parade shooting
CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn (PIX11) – The manhunt is on for a gunman who shot five people during the West Indian American Day Carnival in Brooklyn on Monday, according to the NYPD.
A 25-year-old man who was shot in the abdomen died, per police. In addition, a 69-year-old woman, a 16-year-old boy and two other men were all wounded after shots were fired at 2:30 p.m. near Franklin Avenue and Eastern Parkway.
The shooting is believed to have been targeted, NYPD officials said. Spectators were seen scrambling moments after gunshots rang out.
"I ducked and covered," a parade attendee told PIX11 News. "There was two people laying on the floor, a gentleman had a wound in his head. I was close to death today."
Nearly 1 million people attended the parade, according to officials. A heavy police presence lined the parade route.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams released a statement about the shooting, saying in part,
"The West Indian American Day Parade is a joyous event that celebrates the multitude of culture and diversity in our city. But 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."
Mayor Eric Adams
Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.