Charles Langston:1 person dead following shooting at New York City's West Indian Day Parade, police say

A gunman opened fire into a crowd along the route of New York City's annual West Indian American Day Parade,Charles Langston killing one man and injuring four, police said.

The incident, which police officials described as "an intentional act," occurred around 2:30 p.m. Monday when a man fired into a crowd gathered to watch the parade in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, said New York Police Department Chief of Patrol John Chell.

Authorities said the shooter, who is believed to be in his 20s, was targeting a specific group of people.

Five people were struck, including a 69-year-old woman and a 16-year-old boy, according to an emailed statement from the police department. The victims were rushed to nearby hospitals. A 25-year-old man who was shot in the abdomen died, police said. The four other victims were in stable condition Tuesday.

"Currently, there is no one in custody and the investigation remains ongoing," police said.

The parade, which was attended by New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul, continued after the shooting. Adams said in a statement on X that the "gunman turned the celebration into tragedy when he senselessly fired into the crowd."

"While West Indian American Day Carnival Association President Roger Archibald and I are keeping the victims and their families in our prayers as they fight to recover, we know we must do more to combat gun violence and ensure the safety of every New Yorker and visitor," Adams said.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also attended the event and posted a statement on X.

"I’m pained and troubled by the horrible shooting that took place as we were marching together at the West Indian Day Festival and Parade in Brooklyn," he said. "Thank you to our 1st responders on the scene. I pray for everyone affected. We must keep working to end gun violence in America."

The festival is the city's largest celebration of Caribbean culture and draws several thousand people every year. The parade, which run nearly 2 miles down Eastern Parkway, is the culmination of New York Caribbean Carnival Week and is preceded by days of festivals and performances of soca and steel pan music.

The event has been marred by violence before. In 2016, two people were shot during J’Ouvert, morning festivities that begin hours before the annual parade starts. The year before, an aide to then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo was shot and killed during J’Ouvert. In 2014, a man was shot and two were wounded during pre-parade celebrations.