West Indian Carnival Expresses Sadness As Jamaican-American NY Governor Staffer Passes

Carey Gabay, a Caribbean-born lawyer in New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration died on Sept. 17, 2015 after being hit by an apparent stray bullet at the annual J’Ouvert Festival early Labor morning, Sept. 7, 2015.

News Americas, BROOKLYN, NY, Fri. Sept. 18, 2015: Officials of the West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA), on Thursday voiced deep sadness as Carey Gabay, the Jamaican-American born aide to Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was shot in the a pre-dawn J’Ouvert party on Labor Day, September 7th, was declared dead.

“In light of this heartbreaking development, we join those mourning the tragic loss of Carey Gabay, who was an outstanding public servant committed to making a difference in our communities each and every day. Our thoughts and prayers for comfort and healing continue to go out to his family and friends during this difficult time,” WIADCA said in a statement.

NYPD officers at the scene of Gabay’s shooting in Brooklyn ,NY on Sept. 7, 2015.

The statement comes after mainstream news outlets, including the Associated Press and the New York Times, falsely reported that Gabay was shot at the carnival.

According to the NYPD, the bullet intended for someone else, struck the 43-year-old first deputy counsel to the NYS governor in the back of his head at about 3:47 a.m. as he tried to take cover in front of 1680 Bedford Ave. in East New York. on Sept. 7th. Twenty-seven shell casings from five handguns, including 9-mms, were recovered at the scene.

His passing comes just two days after his family declared he was brain dead.

The NYPD is now using facial recognition software to try to track down the gunman, who they believe is a local gang member. The suspect is described as a black man in his late teens or early 20s who was wearing a white T-shirt and black pants. He had a beard and was draped in a Jamaican flag.

This sketch of the suspected shooter has been released by the NYPD.

So far they have released a sketch of the man whom they say opened fire at a rival in the Ebbets Field Houses among hundreds who were peacefully enjoying J’Ouvert.

Detectives have collected more than 300 videos from the scene and are analyzing them. So far they have identified at least three potential suspects and will be examining images to compare them with known suspects whose mug shots are on file.

WIADCA said Thursday it will continue to work with the NYPD and city leaders to ensure “we are all protected from these violent incidents that are plaguing our city and nation.”

Gabay is the son of Jamaican immigrants. He grew up in Bronx public housing and attended and graduated with an undergraduate and a law degree from Harvard University. He later went on to a distinguished career as a lawyer in private practice and well-respected public servant. Gabay served as assistant counsel to the governor until 2011, and worked as a banking and finance associate at Jones Day law firm from 2007 to 2009.

He also worked as a structure products associate at Schulte Roth and Zabel LLP from 2002 to 2007. He remains in the Kings County Hospital Center on life support. He is married to Trinidadian Trenelle Gabay but the couple has no children.

Contact police with any information.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, visit nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. Gabay’s family is also urging anyone who may have information related to the criminal case to contact law enforcement. The suspect could face murder charges when caught.