NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton says a suspect is in custody in a fatal shooting that occurred hours before the start of the nearby West Indian Day Parade.

Bratton says a “career criminal” opened fire early today on a crowd of people who had already begun parade festivities in Brooklyn. One man died.

Bratton says the suspect had recently been paroled.

Mayor Bill de Blasio (dih BLAH’-zee-oh) defended the importance of the parade despite the violence that has surrounded it in recent years.

He says the “vast majority have a wonderful time and only a few individuals get out of line.”

He was joined at the parade by his wife, Chirlane McCray, who is of Caribbean decent, and their children, Dante and Chiara.

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