NY Caribbean fest revels amid security; some violence nearby

NEW YORK (AP) — Revelry, cultural pride and newly tightened security mixed Monday at one of the largest U.S. celebrations of Caribbean communities, as the city tried to ensure safety at an event that has been marred by nearby violence. But some still happened.

One man was shot and another stabbed near the Caribbean Carnival parade route Monday evening, police said. Still, officials noted, an early morning pre-parade celebration unfolded safely after its start time was moved to try to avoid trouble.

In all, thousands of revelers, musicians, dancers and costumed troupes turned out to bounce to the steel-drum beat of Brooklyn’s melting-pot Labor Day tradition: a daylong West Indian party, featuring a morning festival called J’ouvert, which combines the French words “jour” and “ouvert” and refers to daybreak, and an afternoon Caribbean Carnival parade.

But it also has become a day of concern for city officials.

In 2015, an aide to Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo was killed by a stray bullet. Last year, 17-year-old Tyreke Borel was shot and killed and a 72-year-old woman was grazed in the arm. Soon after, a 22-year-old woman, Tiarah Poyau, was shot in the head just a block away and died.

Man who died at Burning Man was

attending for first time

RENO, Nev. (AP) — The mother of a man who died after plunging into a massive fire at the Burning Man festival says he was attending the festival in Nevada for the first time.

Authorities say Aaron Joel Mitchell wasn’t under the influence of alcohol, but toxicology tests are underway for other drugs.

Mitchell’s mother told the Reno Gazette-Journal that he worked in construction and loved the outdoors.

Johnnye Mitchell says her son was from McAlester, Oklahoma, and had been living in Switzerland with his wife.

The 41-year-old man died after breaking through two layers of security as a giant wooden effigy burned on Saturday.

The festival ended Sunday with the burning of another giant wooden figure. About 50,000 people attended that signature ceremony.