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U.S. NEWS Monday 29 July 2019

NYC police seek 2 shooters in Brooklyn playground shooting

By DEEPTI HAJELA good time," Kaseem Col- an east Brooklyn neighbor-
MALLIKA SEN lins, 19, told the Daily News. hood that's continued to
NEW YORK (AP) — A popu- Then, when shots rang out, struggle with gun violence,
lar community festival was "we all started running," he even as New York streets
coming to a close when said. "I ran as fast as I could become safer than they
gunfire erupted in a Brook- away from everyone. I have been in decades.
lyn neighborhood, leaving thought I was going to get Activists and elected offi-
one man dead, another shot." cials spoke out on the need
person in critical condition "I heard shots, and I saw a for more resources to go
and 10 others wounded, stampede running toward toward community groups
authorities said Sunday me," Diamond Perez, 38, and anti-violence pro-
as they searched for two told the newspaper. grams, as well as efforts to
shooters they believe were The Old Timers Event had crack down on illegal guns.
involved. been held since 1963, "We don't need bumper-
New York Police Commis- O'Neill said. sticker slogans, we need
sioner James O'Neill said A 2010 newsletter from real partnership on the
the shooting late Saturday the parks department de- ground," Brooklyn Bor- A police officer walks by yellow evidence markers at a play-
in the borough's Brownsville scribed it as a celebra- ough President Eric Adams ground in the Brownsville neighborhood in the Brooklyn borough
section "was a tragic end tion of former members of said.q of New York, Sunday, July 28, 2019.
to a wonderful weekend" the Brownsville Recreation Associated Press
that involved thousands of Center "who went on to
people gathering to take success and fame in sports
part in the annual Old Tim- and other endeavors." It
ers Event, which featured said the event has grown
musical performances from over the years to include
former residents and cur- concerts and other things.
rent local talent. Speaking at a news con-
The crowd at the celebra- ference on Sunday, New
tion was dispersing when York City Mayor Bill de Bla-
gunshots rang out from a sio said the two-day block
playground area in the party was an "example of
park where it was taking everything good about
place, officials said. the Brownsville community"
Twelve people were hit — and decried the shooting
seven men and five wom- as a "tragedy" that does
en between the ages of 21 not define the neighbor-
and 55. A 38-year-old man hood.
died from a bullet wound Videos posted on social me-
to the head. His name was dia showed police clearing
not immediately released. large groups of people out
Six of the wounded had of the area around the rec-
been released from the reation center. Photos from
hospital by midday Sun- local news outlets showed
day, O'Neill said. several people taken away
No arrests have been on stretchers, including
made, and authorities some with what appeared
asked anyone with infor- to be minor wounds.
mation or cellphone video "It was chaos," Gary Miller,
to come forward. One gun a 60-year-old vendor at the
was recovered. O'Neill said event, told the New York
gang activity was among Post. Witnesses heard 9 to
the possible motives. 11 shots, "and everyone
"There were a lot of people was running and scatter-
just chilling and having a ing for cover." Brownsville is