“I’ve never heard of 12 people shot in one incident—ever,” an investigator told The Post, adding that “this is one of the worst, most brazen shootings I’ve ever seen.”
The Post reported that despite the presence of dozens of police officers, an unidentified suspect fired multiple rounds into the crowd.
Footage shared on social media showed police clearing the scene and the aftermath of what one witness described as “pure pandemonium.”
Scores of police and EMS response teams descended upon the area, with victims rushed to area hospitals.
“I heard shots and I ducked,” a 66-year-old event attendee told The Post. “When I stuck my head up, and the smoke cleared, it was pure pandemonium.”
“It was chaos,” said 60-year-old Gary Miller, a vendor at the party, via The Post. “People were breaking down, having outbursts.”
A tweet by NYC Scanner claimed that one of the victims of the shooting was “dead on arrival.”
The Post reported that a discarded firearm was found on the scene and that the suspect remained at large.
At least six people had been transported to local hospitals by just after midnight, with some in serious condition, a New York City fire department spokesman said, via The Associated Press. He described the scene at the time as “fluid.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio called it a “terrible shooting” in an early morning tweet, adding that “Our hearts go out to the victims.”
While New York crime rates have seen a decline, the neighborhood of Brownsville has continued to struggle with gun violence.
According to The Associated Press, a 2010 newsletter from the parks department described the Brownsville Oldtimers Week 2019 as a celebration of “former members of the center who went on to success and fame in sports and other endeavors” that’s grown to include concerts and other events.
A Facebook event page shows a poster featuring photos of performers and the message: “All r welcome, let’s come in peace.”
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