Violence once again mars New York’s West Indian Day Parade

The West Indian Day Parade, a rollicking, colorful celebration of Caribbean culture, music, style and food, rolled through New York City’s streets Monday but, once again, was marred by predawn violence that left one man dead and an aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo in critical condition. Cuomo identified his wounded staffer as Carey Gabay, a first deputy general counsel at the Empire State Development Corp. Gabay was walking with his brother near the Brooklyn parade route at 3:40 a.m. when he was caught in the crossfire between two gangs, according to police officials.

I’m the governor of the state of New York, and there’s not a thing I can do. There’s not a thing I can say, and there’s nothing I can do. And sometimes it just hurts.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Bloodshed before or after the West Indian Day celebration has become a sadly familiar part of the parade routine. Last year, a recent parolee opened fire into a crowd of revelers, killing one man and wounding several others. And in 2013, a 1-year-old boy sitting in his stroller was killed by a bullet meant for his father. But the parade was also the latest venue for New York’s most high-profile political feud. The march and an official preparade breakfast were the first public events since July that Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who are locked in a simmering dispute, were both supposed to attend. But their paths never crossed. Cuomo left the breakfast about 10 minutes before de Blasio arrived, and the two men, both Democrats, marched separately.

Americas West Indian Day Parade