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2 Killed at J’ouvert Celebration in Brooklyn 2 Killed at J’ouvert Celebration in Brooklyn
(about 4 hours later)
Despite a huge police presence, hundreds of floodlights and pleas to refrain from the violence that has marred the celebration of West Indian American Day in Brooklyn, this year’s festivities, which began overnight, again turned deadly.Despite a huge police presence, hundreds of floodlights and pleas to refrain from the violence that has marred the celebration of West Indian American Day in Brooklyn, this year’s festivities, which began overnight, again turned deadly.
Two people were shot and killed and at least two others were wounded in separate shootings near the eastern edge of Prospect Park, which was crammed with revelers at a predawn festival known as J’ouvert, according to police officials. Two people were shot and killed and at least two others were wounded early Monday in separate shootings near the eastern edge of Prospect Park, which was crammed with revelers at the predawn festival known as J’ouvert, according to police officials.
The violence began about 3:50 a.m. when a young man, thought to be in his late teens or early 20s, was shot in the chest near the corner of Flatbush Avenue and Empire Boulevard. He was taken to Kings County Hospital Center, where he was pronounced dead. During the same shooting, a 72-year-old woman was shot in the arm and was expected to survive. The violence began about 3:50 a.m. when a young man, thought to be in his late teens or early 20s, was shot in the chest near the corner of Flatbush Avenue and Empire Boulevard. He was taken to Kings County Hospital Center, where he was pronounced dead. During the same shooting, a 72-year-old woman was shot in the arm; she was expected to survive.
Not far away on Empire Boulevard and about a half-hour later, a 22-year-old woman was shot in the face during a dispute, police officials said. She was taken to Kings County Hospital Center, where she was pronounced dead. About 30 minutes later, and not far away on Empire Boulevard, a 22-year-old woman was shot in the face during a dispute, police officials said. She was taken to Kings County Hospital Center, where she was pronounced dead.
And around 6:50 a.m., an unidentified man was shot and wounded, near the corner of Clarkson Avenue and Rogers Avenue. Police officials did not have immediate word about his condition. And around 6:50 a.m., an unidentified man was shot and wounded near the corner of Clarkson Avenue and Rogers Avenue. Police officials did not immediately have any details about his condition.
Violence at the overnight festival has been a recurring problem. Last year, Carey Gabay, a lawyer who worked for the administration of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, was killed after he was caught in the crossfire of a shootout between rival gangs. Another man was fatally stabbed in a separate episode last year. Violence at the overnight festival has been a recurring problem. Last year, Carey W. Gabay, a lawyer who worked for the administration of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, was killed after he was caught in the crossfire of a shootout between rival gangs. Another man was fatally stabbed in a separate episode last year.
In response, the Police Department planned to double the number of uniformed officers assigned to this year’s festivities. The department also installed 200 floodlights and granted the predawn parade an official permit for the first time in its 22-year history. The police estimate the event draws about 250,000 people.In response, the Police Department planned to double the number of uniformed officers assigned to this year’s festivities. The department also installed 200 floodlights and granted the predawn parade an official permit for the first time in its 22-year history. The police estimate the event draws about 250,000 people.
Yvette Rennie, the president of J’ouvert City International, the group that was given the permit and organizes many of the events, walked along Empire Boulevard shortly before dawn and, when asked about the violence, said that she did not have time for an interview. Yvette Rennie, the president of J’ouvert City International, the group that was given the permit and organizes many of the events, walked along Empire Boulevard shortly before dawn Monday and, when asked about the violence, said that she did not have time for an interview. She did not immediately return a call later Monday morning.
The violence was a setback for an event that has been the lesser known cousin of the far larger West Indian American Day Parade, which is organized by a different group. People are drawn to a tradition they say they used to celebrate in their native Caribbean countries. The violence was a setback for an event that has been the lesser-known cousin of the far larger West Indian American Day Parade, which is organized by a different group. People drawn to J’ouvert, whose name means daybreak, say it is a tradition they used to celebrate in their native Caribbean countries.
Under the cover of darkness, people transform themselves into royalty, wearing crowns and rhinestones, or into oil-slicked dancers and painted pranksters. Some people create mini-clouds out of baby powder that also scents the air.
The wee hours of Monday started peacefully if not chaotically. The police kept shifting barricades, confusing people who were trying to find the beginning of the J’ouvert parade.
The floodlights also created a different mood, regular attendees said. Some people said it made the event seem safer, while others found the illumination overbearing. Serrano Smith, a street vendor, said that the crowd seemed smaller than in previous years and that he had plenty of unsold flags of Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and other Caribbean countries. “Last year, I didn’t have enough hands to sell,” he said, adding that the threat of rain and winds from the remnants of the post-tropical cyclone Hermine probably contributed to the smaller crowd.
Though the crowd might have been smaller, the police presence was not.
Janet Lewis, 68, who was regal in sequins, a white ball gown and silver accessories to match, said she felt safer than in the past. She recalled how last year’s killings had shaken her. “It was frightening for us,” she said.
Ms. Lewis said that as she got older she could not make it through a full set of activities, including the parade. J’ouvert, she said, is her chance to participate. “I do the morning and after that, I go home and get some rest,” she said.
But the peace did not last long. Around 3:30 a.m., police vehicles were winding through the streets as if they were floats with sirens blaring and lights flashing. The noise mixed with the soca played by steel bands and the reggae that blared from car stereos.
The din was so loud inside Prospect Park, where bands and crowds had gathered, that few heard the gunshots not far away on Empire Boulevard.
As people marched toward Empire Boulevard, considered the informal heart of J’ouvert, ambulances quickly departed and the parade route looked the same as it had before the shootings. People stepped over yellow and blue police caution tape as if it were the Silly String that some parade-goers were spraying on one another.
A young man, who would identify himself only as J.C., led a group in song as another young man beat percussion on a wooden box that he used as a chair. J.C. sang Tupac Shakur lyrics — “Keep ya head up” — as people responded with, “Ooh, child, things are going to get easier.”
The shootings did not give them any pause. “There’s shootings every day on this planet,” J.C. said. “We’re still celebrating. We have a lot to celebrate.”
Lisa LaCroix, 46, wore a plastic crown in celebration of her native Trinidad and Tobago. “We really were hoping this year it would be better without an incident,” she said. “We just want to come out and have fun. It’s really sad this situation happened this morning.”