Five people shot at West Indian Day parade where 1million gathered in NYC

At least five people have been shot during the West Indian Day Festival parade in New York City.

Festivities kicked off before sunrise - dubbed the J'Ouvert portion of the celebrations - and were due to end about 6pm. 

But by 2.45pm, NYPD say shots were fired into the crowd by a lone gunman targeting a group of festivalgoers.

Two of those victims remain in a critical condition, while three are expected to survive.

'Today one person intentionally going after a group of people tried to ruin the day for everybody,' Chief of Patrol John Chell said. 

The shooter, described as 'a male black in his 20s, wearing a dark shirt with paint stains and a bandana' remains on the run.

At least five people have been shot during the West Indian Day Festival parade in New York City

Up to one million people were due to attend the parade through the streets of the city

Four of the victims are men and one woman was shot. Police have not yet revealed the ages of those involved. 

Police said there is no threat to the wider community, and that the shooter specifically targeted the group of victims.

Up to one million people were due to attend the parade through the streets of Brooklyn.

On Monday afternoon at about 2.42pm, shots rang out on the 300 block of Eastern Parkway, sparking a frenzied response from onlookers.

On Monday afternoon at about 2.42pm, shots rang out on the 300 block of Eastern Parkway, sparking a frenzied response from onlookers

Police had already assured the public there would be a heightened police presence 

Up to one million people were due to attend the parade through the streets of Brooklyn

It is understood one victim was shot in the head, another in the shoulder and a third in the wrist, the New York Post reported.

The West Indian Day Parade is a carnival celebration of West Indian culture, and is held annually on the first Monday of September. 

In 2016, two people were shot and killed during celebrations prior to the parade itself. 

Two people were also tragically killed in the leadup to the 2015 parade. 

During the parade, attendees march from Empire Boulevard and Flatbush Avenue, through to Nostrand Avenue and Rutland Road.

New York Attorney General Letitia James was in attendance on Monday, later writing on X: 'It was a beautiful day for the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn! 

'I had a great time celebrating our Caribbean communities and everything they bring to our state.'

It is understood one victim was shot in the head, another in the shoulder and a third in the wrist

On Monday afternoon, shots rang out on the 300 block of Eastern Parkway, sparking a frenzied response from onlookers

Emergency services were called to the scene to respond to the incident

Police had previously vowed to have a strong presence at this year's festival, equipped with drones, security cameras and handheld metal detectors. 

'There will be plenty of safety measures that people will see, and there will be plenty of measures that you will not see,' NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said earlier in the week.

NYPD held a press conference on Monday afternoon revealing 'one person intentionally going after a group of people tried to ruin the day for everybody.'

'Labor Day in NYC is one of our toughest weekends... our cops are working extremely hard.'

'We'll be out here until the wee hours of the morning... working hard, keeping the community safe.

'Please, if anyone has any video, and I know they do, we need that video. We are going to solve this but it's going to take a lot of work.'

Police had previously vowed to have a strong presence at this year's festival, equipped with drones, security cameras and handheld metal detectors

Evidence was bagged up at the scene