Gov. Cuomo aide still critical in induced coma; $12,500 reward offered in shooting

CROWN HEIGHTS, N.Y. (WABC) -- Crime Stoppers and the NYPD are offering up a reward in connection with the shooting of an aide for Gov. Andrew Cuomo in Brooklyn, with the aide now in an induced coma.

The reward for $12,500 was announced Tuesday morning. Authorities have saturated the neighborhood of the shooting with posters describing the details, and are spreading news of the reward on loudspeakers.

Carey Gabay, 43, remains in critical condition. The first deputy counsel for the governor was shot at about 3:47 a.m. Monday during a pre-dawn party celebrating the West Indian Day parade.

In a statement Tuesday, his family said "Carey remains in critical condition and is currently in an induced coma surrounded by his loved ones. Our family is thankful for the outpouring of prayers that we've received in the aftermath of this senseless violence. Carey has always been an inspiration to all of us and he continues to inspire us with his fight for survival. We are leaning on our faith and asking for continued support during this extremely difficult time."

Police said Gabay was with friends walking past an area where a fight between gangs broke out and shots were fired, putting them in the middle of the crossfire. Gabay ducked behind a car, but was struck by a bullet in the top of his head.

Eyewitness News has obtained exclusive surveillance video of the chaos as Gabey was shot and people were sent running.

"It's pretty sad something like this has to happen, especially with someone just trying to celebrate, especially with his culture," said neighbor Dez Phillips.

Thousands were out celebrating early Monday morning on Bedford Avenue on the eve of the parade. Gabay was in the crowd, having fun with his friends and walking behind a float.

In the video, people are seen walking on the avenue. They stop, look back, and then run for their lives. They shot indiscriminately, they shot when he was down," said Gabay's friend Kevin Cummings.

"He's not doing well," Cuomo said of Gabay Tuesday during a visit to Puerto Rico to discuss ways New York could help the U.S. territory's economic crisis.

Police Commissioner William Bratton told reporters Tuesday that investigators were focusing on two gangs whose members are well-known to the New York Police Department.

"I'm very confident that we will solve that crime," Bratton said.

Cummings described the chaos of the scene.

"It's mortifying, my best friend got shot in the head," he said. "We all got up and walked around to make sure everybody was OK. I walked around and I saw Carey lying on the floor, and I can't believe it, I just started to cry, but then his brother was there and he just lost it."

Gabay was rushed to the hospital. Cummings said doctors placed him on a respirator.

Gov. Cuomo called the Harvard-educated lawyer "an outstanding public servant" who joined his administration in 2011 and was promoted earlier this year.

RELATED: Click here to read more tributes to Gabay

This shooting was among other violence that broke out before the annual J'Ouvert Festival that left one person dead and four injured, including Gabay.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Crime Stopppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.