Fatal shooting mars Caribbean parade in NY

NEW YORK: A fatal shooting marred the colourful flourish and festive atmosphere of the West Indian American Day parade yesterday, which organisers had dedicated to the memory of a city councilman who had himself been slain by gun violence.

Police said that toward the end of the parade, a man wearing a mask shot another man in the head along the parade route. The victim, who was not identified, was taken to Kings County Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Authorities were searching for the shooter. Organisers had wanted the parade to honour James Davis, who was killed July 23 by a political rival who carried a gun into City Hall and shot him in the council chambers. This year, marchers included a group of people holding leftover campaign signs urging voters to “Re-elect Councilman James E Davis,” and others held signs supporting Davis’ younger brother, Geoffrey, who is running for his seat. A steady rain kept many spectators at home. The parade bills itself as one of the largest in North America, but few people were pressed against barricades lining the parkway this year. But the parade’s signature characters were out in force — men and women who danced down the parkway, some in outrageous, barely-there outfits and many waving flags of Caribbean nations. Behind the barricades, calypso music blared from speakers set up on the sidewalks, and street vendors served up jerk chicken, grilled vegetables and pina coladas. Also turning out in great numbers were politicians, among them Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton who was given a warm reception.