Responding to Violence at the West Indian Day Parade (2024)

Published by: NY1 (Inside City Hall)

Date: September 3, 2024

Scope: Crown Heights, Weeksville

In September 2024, tragedy struck the West Indian Day Parade in Crown Heights. A 25-year-old man visiting from Texas was shot and killed, and four others were wounded along the parade route. In the days leading up to J’Ouvert, the NYPD had already seized 25 guns from the streets.

Brian Saunders, President of the 77th Precinct Community Council, appeared on Inside City Hall to speak on behalf of the community. He called for stronger preventative measures, greater investment in safety planning, and closer cooperation between residents and law enforcement to ensure that cultural celebrations remain both vibrant and secure.

For Saunders, violence at events like the West Indian Day Parade is not just a policing issue — it is a community challenge. His leadership continues to emphasize that joy, culture, and tradition can only thrive when residents feel safe.

Written By Brian Saunders

9/15/2025