Violence Erupts After City’s Mexican Day Parade

A 17-year-old girl became an unintended victim in a shooting incident attributed to rising gang violence following the city’s Mexican day parade, which also saw another man stabbed, according to police and sources on Monday.

Joel Niebbs, 35, was shot in the shoulder by the teen. He had previously been charged with attempted murder, assault, and weapon possession in connection with a shooting that occurred Sunday evening in Midtown.

Authorities reported that Niebbs discharged his weapon around 5 PM at the intersection of 27th Avenue and Park Avenue.

In another incident, a 14-year-old boy, suspected of participating in the stabbing, was taken into custody and charged with gang-related assault. This stabbing happened near the intersection of 28th Avenue and Madison Avenue, leaving the victim hospitalized but in stable condition, according to officers.

The 17-year-old girl, who was shot in her left shoulder, was also transported to Bellevue Hospital and is reported to be stable.

While Niebbs has not yet faced any charges related to the stabbing, investigators suspect he is connected to a group that became aggressive shortly after the parade concluded, sources revealed.

There is speculation that both the shooting and stabbing are linked to gang activity.

Officers were not able to confirm if Niebbs or the 14-year-old has gang affiliations at this time.

Niebbs, hailing from the Bronx, has a criminal history, with 10 prior arrests, the most recent in July 2023 for reckless endangerment. He was also arrested in October 2017 for illegal possession of a weapon, as noted by sources.