NY state lawmaker looks to expand the definition of 'mass shooting' in wake of West Indian Day violence

Albany will take up two new bills related to gun violence when it begins a new session next year – propelled by the deadly shooting on the West Indian Day Parade route earlier this month.

“It's time for us to employ some different strategies,” said State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, who introduced the bills last week.

Myrie represents a wide swath of Central Brooklyn, including Crown Heights, which continues to grapple with gun violence even as shootings decrease citywide. He’s also eyeing run for mayor next year where public safety is likely to again be a central issue.

While Myrie said the root causes of gun violence in his district have to be addressed, the shooting at the parade – which killed 25-year-old Denzel Chan and wounded four others – presented an opportunity to respond through legislation.

“It's a small but really significant change,” Myrie said, adding that it would unlock emergency resources and financial aid for survivors. “The impact is often just as devastating… if you have been paralyzed by being shot, that has a lifelong consequence for you and it's going to take a different level of accommodation and service.”