The suspect stood on the cement divider on Eastern Parkway near Classon Avenue and fired into the crowd of thousands who were watching the parade, police said.
The victim, later identified as Denzel Chan, was shot in the abdomen and four other people were injured. Police said the shooting was gang-related and an intentional act toward a group of people.
Police give update after suspect fires into crowd along New York Caribbean Carnival Parade
"I know one person died. Our hearts go out to the family members because you come out to celebrate, you don't want to come out and have that violence that we've seen in the past. That parade has always attracted a small element of people who want to commit violence. We showed that when we come together, we can prevent that," Mayor Eric Adams said.
Marius Sirju is one of the victims who was injured during the shooting.
He says he hasn't been to the parade in decades due to concerns about potential violence, but was there this year because he was visiting a family member's house located across the street from the event and some of his loved ones wanted to watch.
Sirju says he had only been at the parade for less than an hour when things suddenly took a turn.
"And then shots start ringing out, and I did not realize I got hit with a bullet," Sirju said. "I felt a burning sensation on my shoulder and one burning sensation. And just that feeling I felt the area. I saw blood. That's when I realized I got shot."
The 64-year-old said chaos soon erupted into the street as he ran to his brother's apartment for help. First responders eventually loaded him into an ambulance after he suffered a gunshot wound to his right arm, while his left arm was grazed by a bullet.
"I was thinking it was going to hit the floor. I thought I was going to die. I thought I was going to die because I was feeling like kind of funny, like this type of way," he said.
Sirju's 69-year-old sister-in-law, who was visiting for a few months, was also injured during the shooting. She was shot in the back right shoulder.
Two other people were also injured during the incident, including a 36-year-old man shot in the head and a 16-year-old boy shot in the left arm.
A celebration of Caribbean culture, the parade has been plagued by violence over the years, which is why the NYPD ramped up security. Adams says 25 guns were taken off the streets during the weekend, and 10 were seized along the parade route.
"The city will not be held captive by the numerical minority that participate in criminal behavior. We seek them out, we hold them accountable. It's imperative that the other parts of the criminal justice system don't allow them to be reoccurring violence in our city," Adams said.
At least one person is still being sought. The suspect is described as a man in his 20s wearing all brown, oil/paint stains on the shirt and a black bandana. He was last seen fleeing on foot Westbound on Classon Avenue.
Police are asking the public to come forward with any video of the incident that may be helpful to their investigation.
If you have any video or information police would like to hear from you at 1-800-577-TIPS, where you always have the option to keep it anonymous.
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