Three men were stabbed in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood early Monday morning, hours before the start of the West Indian American Day Carnival parade. The attacks occurred just before 6 a.m. local time, according to the New York Police Department.
A 23-year-old man was stabbed in the neck, and a 36-year-old man was stabbed in the face near the intersection of Carroll Street and Utica Avenue. Approximately 30 minutes later, a third victim, a 32-year-old man, was found with a stab wound to the neck at the intersection of Utica Avenue and President Street.
All three victims were transported to Kings County Hospital. The 32-year-old is in critical condition, while the other two are stable. Authorities stated that all three are expected to survive.
Police have launched a manhunt for the suspect, described as a man wearing a black t-shirt and gray jeans. The suspect fled the scene in an unknown direction. The NYPD is urging anyone with information to come forward.
The West Indian American Day Carnival is an annual event celebrating Caribbean culture, music, and heritage, held annually over the Labor Day weekend. The event culminates in a large parade along Eastern Parkway, typically drawing between one and three million spectators. It is considered the largest Caribbean carnival in North America.
Monday's festivities began with the J'Ouvert celebration, a pre-dawn street party. The main parade was scheduled to commence at 11 a.m. It remains unclear if the stabbings will affect the event's schedule.