NEW YORK — New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton says a suspect is in custody in a fatal shooting that occurred hours before the start of the nearby West Indian Day Parade.
Bratton says a “career criminal” opened fire early Sunday on a crowd of people who had already begun parade festivities in Brooklyn. One man died.
Bratton says the suspect had recently been paroled.
Mayor Bill de Blasio defended the importance of the parade despite the violence that has surrounded it in recent years.
He says the “vast majority have a wonderful time and only a few individuals get out of line.”
He was joined at the parade by his wife, Chirlane McCray, who is of Caribbean decent, and their children, Dante and Chiara.
