Eyewitnesses describe shooting after Puerto Rican Day Parade

After the Sunset Park Puerto Rican Day Parade came to a close on Sunday, June 14, gunfire erupted near 45th Street and Fifth Avenue, leaving two people injured.

Shortly after 7 p.m., a dispute among a group of teenagers and young adults ended with three or four gunshots. Eyewitness accounts differ on the number of shots seen or heard.

Two young men were wounded. A 19-year-old was shot in the left arm, while a 20-year-old was shot in the back. Both were taken to NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn in stable condition, according to an NYPD spokesperson.

Two people were arrested in connection with the shooting. Nicholas Cruz, 19, was charged with attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment. An unnamed 16-year-old boy was charged with attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon.

The shooting brought the celebration to a halt and frightened many people in the area.

A local business owner on Fifth Avenue, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, was working inside her business when she heard gunfire. She went outside to see what was happening and noticed a commotion that she believed was connected to the shots. She then returned to her business and locked the door.

She said the precaution was only temporary because she believed the police would handle the situation.

“There were rumors going around later that six shots were fired,” the business owner said. “If that were true, I would have closed up for the day. I only heard three. Eventually, I unlocked the doors.”

Jean Paredes, a street vendor who had set up during the parade, witnessed the shooting from a closer vantage point.

“I was on the street and I heard a group of teenagers arguing, coming down from the park,” Paredes said. “I heard them coming because I was paying attention to everyone coming down the street, looking for customers. It was a group of boys and girls, swearing and yelling in English.

“They all walked right past me, then stopped in front of the T-Mobile store across the street. At that point, it looked like it was a bunch of people against one. Someone pulled out a gun and I heard four gunshots.

“I saw one of the kids fall over and another bleeding from his back. All the rest of the teenagers ran in two directions, on 45th Street up toward Sixth Avenue and down toward Fourth Avenue. Two or three minutes later, the police and an ambulance showed up.”

There was speculation about what caused the argument that preceded the shooting. Much of it circulated on Citizen, a mobile app where neighbors can share and discuss incidents in their community. None of the theories could be verified.

Paredes said he remained in place during the shooting because he could not leave the cart where he was selling drinks. He was selling drinks from a cart operated by his business, Bartender Sin Frontera, which sells mocktails, or nonalcoholic cocktails.

Paredes said it was a shame that the parade ended on such an unfortunate note. However, he said he had a good day of sales.

“Hopefully, I’m back for the parade next year,” Paredes said.