NYPD officials vowed to apprehend the man suspected of a fatal shooting during the West Indian American Day Parade, while displaying dozens of confiscated firearms to make the case that police officials were focused on safety over the Labor Day weekend.

“We didn’t pull the trigger, but we take responsibility because it is our job to keep New Yorkers safe,” NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said. “That’s what we’ve been working for, for many, many years.”

Police officials say 31 firearms were confiscated in the precincts around the parade, leading to 35 people arrested.

“Every last one of those live rounds in there is a life that was saved during that weekend,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry said.

Still, despite best efforts, a person fired into a crowd along the parade route on Eastern Parkway, near Franklin Avenue, amid new security measures to prevent the type of deadly violence that had occurred in years past.

NYPD leaders offered new details about the investigation.  

“We believe from witness that there was one shooter who jumped over the police barricade and fired in the direction of individuals that were present at that location,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Jerry O’Sullivan said.

Investigators believe it’s gang related, “based on the people we’ve identified as being at the scene and fleeing from the scene,” O’Sullivan said. 

NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell rejected the assertion that a fatal shooting at a heavily policed parade was a failure.

“As professionals, we’re upset because we want our plan to be flawless. We set a high mark for this parade and J’ouvert the last couple of years, a very high mark,” Chell said. “So what can we do from that point on from the parade, because we certainly didn’t fail.”