Advocates remain in shock over fatal shooting at West Indian Day Parade

People in the community say they are still traumatized over a shooting that left a man dead and four others injured at the West Indian Day Parade.

Shniece Archer

Sep 5, 2024, 2:42 AM

Updated 107 days ago

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People in the community say they are still traumatized over a shooting that left a man dead and four others injured at the West Indian Day Parade.
Advocates told News 12 they believe the NYPD did their best to keep New Yorkers safe.
"Everybody is celebrating and having a good time, and to hear three shots and then see people fall to the ground, and I was able to see the young man that was hit in the head," said Mike Tucker, the founder of Lay the Guns Down Foundation.
Tucker was one of the hundreds of people who attended this year's West Indian Day Parade. He stood just feet away from where police said a 25-year-old man was shot and killed and four other people were injured.
"There's so much planning that goes into the safety and making sure that everybody is able to enjoy what they came out here for, which was the celebration," said Tucker.
Advocates along with the 67th Precinct's GodSquad came up with safety protocols to make sure New Yorkers were safe on the parkway. The NYPD also practiced different safety measures, like a roll call before they headed to J'ouvert.
"We really did a lot of work out here to make sure that we were keeping the community safe. Unfortunately, this was a random act of violence that took place right here in the heart of the parade," said Louis Straker, the board chairman of the 67th Precinct Clergy Council GodSquad.
The NYPD is still looking for the person responsible.