Updated

The Latest on New York City's annual West Indian Day Parade (all times local):

12:30 p.m.

The celebration of all things Caribbean has brought costumed revelers and steel drum bands to the streets of New York CIty for the annual West Indian Day Parade.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and a slew of other state and city officials are among the marchers in Brooklyn. Onlookers have crowded along the parade route, carrying the flags of the different Caribbean nations.

Police presence has been significant at the parade and the pre-dawn festival that precedes it, J'ouvert (joo-VAY'), both of which have been marred by violence.

Two people were shot to death in the streets around the area Monday as J'ouvert was going on.

Last year, an aide to the governor was shot and killed during J'ouvert festivities.

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6:25 a.m.

New York City police say two people have been shot to death during a carnival in the hours before the West Indian Day Parade.

Police say a male in his late teens or early 20s was shot in the chest at around 3:50 a.m. Monday in Brooklyn. He died at a hospital.

Police say about 25 minutes later, a 22-year-old woman was shot in the head just a block away and died at a hospital.

Police are investigating whether the shootings are related.

The shootings happened during J'ouvert (joo-VAY'), a carnival celebrating Caribbean culture held before dawn each Labor Day. The event is often marred by violence. Last year, an aide to the governor was killed by a stray bullet.