A man was shot to death on a float at the West Indian Day Parade yesterday, marring the festive event, which had been dedicated to slain City Councilman James Davis – himself the victim of gun violence.
The shooting erupted at 4:39 p.m. outside 729 Eastern Parkway, between Kingston and Brooklyn avenues, as the colorful extravaganza was winding down.
Cops said a man tried to climb onto the back of the float and the victim knocked him off with a cane.
An argument broke out, and the shooter pulled out a gun and fired twice, hitting the victim in the head.
A DJ on the float screamed, “Call police! Call police!”
A cop stationed on the front of the float came to the back, saw the victim and radioed for help.
The unidentified victim was pronounced dead at Kings County Hospital.
Cops were hunting for the shooter.
“Shots rang out. I heard pow, pow,” said Noellyne Niles, 47, who was running a food stand near the site of the shooting. “Everyone started running to safety. I saw the victim lying on the ground with a hole in his head.”
About 90 minutes later – on the same block – a man was slashed in the throat and critically injured during a dispute between two groups, cops said.
The parade honored Councilman Davis, who was shot to death July 23 in City Hall by a political rival, Othniel Askew.
“James loved parades,” said City Council Speaker Gifford Miller. “James used to march to the end of every parade. And he particularly had a great love for this parade.”
A group of marchers carried signs supporting Davis’ younger brother, Geoffrey, who is running for his seat.
Geoffrey Davis carried a placard with a picture of his slain brother that said “Re-elect James E. Davis.”
“I wanted to bring the picture as momentum to the community,” Geoffrey said. “In fact, the community’s been reaching out to us, asking me for this picture.”
Before the violence erupted, thousands of New Yorkers – including jockeying politicians – braved a steady rain to strut and sway down Eastern Parkway in the 36th annual parade.
As the extravaganza began, Mayor Bloomberg, who customarily marches in front of the parade, was upstaged by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The senator began walking in front of Hizzoner as she was besieged by reporters demanding to know if she plans to run for president.
Bloomberg marched behind as miffed mayoral aides tried to figure out what to do.
“That was totally wrong,” said one aide.
Farther along the route, Clinton stopped to sign a copy of her book – and Bloomberg marched right past her.
Despite the rain, the parade’s signature characters were out in force – men and women who danced down the parkway, some with feathers in their hair, some in bright pink and green, other in barely-there costumes.
Reggae and calypso music blasted from speakers.
Avassel Morris, 41, a Jamaican who lives in Canarsie, brought her 3-year-old niece, Latoya Francis, to enjoy the festivities.
“It represents who you are,” she said. “It reminds you what our celebration is all about, bringing everyone together.”
The parade is no stranger to violence.
In 1999, two 11-year-olds dancing in glittering costumes were struck and killed when a van trailing them suddenly lurched forward after the driver’s foot slipped off the brake.
In 1998, a man grabbed a cop’s gun and as the two struggled for the weapon, the gun went off, grazing the officer’s leg.
Additional reporting by Angelina Cappiello