On Labor Day (Sept. 2), five people were injured after someone opened fire into a crowd of thousands of people at the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn, ABC7 New York reported. 

According to Chief of Patrol John Chell, the suspect, who was standing on a cement divider, deliberately aimed at a group of people before firing into a crowd of thousands of people. "This was not random. This was an intentional act," Chell said to reporters. The incident took place near Classon Avenue and Eastern Parkway. 

Despite the chaos, many nearby vendors were initially unaware of the shooting due to the carnival’s loud music. "I was just busy cooking. I didn't hear because of the loud noise of the music," Dwight Davis told the TV station.

Law enforcement officers and paramedics, who were already in the area for the event, quickly responded. The victims included four males and one female, who were aged between 16 and 69. All of them were transported to a nearby hospital and are now in stable condition.

The suspect was described as a male in his 20s. He wore all brown clothing, the highlight of a weekend of festivities, which has been a tradition in New York City since the 1920s, when celebrations began on a small scale in Harlem, according to NYC Tourism. Every Labor Day, Brooklyn’s Crown Heights transforms as Eastern Parkway fillsoil or paint stains on his shirt, and a black bandana. He fled westbound on Classon Avenue. Police are actively searching for him and have urged the public to come forward with any video footage to assist the investigation.

The West Indian Day Parade, which is the highlight of a weekend of festivities, has been a tradition in New York City since the 1920s, when celebrations began on a small scale in Harlem, according to NYC Tourism. Every Labor Day, Brooklyn’s Crown Heights transforms as Eastern Parkway gets filled with bystanders, vendors, dancers, revelers, bands, and masqueraders celebrating and honoring Caribbean culture. Spice and Lola Brooke were a few stars in attendance this year.