One Dead, One Injured After Truck Runs Into Crowd at Stonewall Pride Parade at Wilton Manors

One man is dead and another man has been injured after a white pickup truck ran over a crowd just as the Stonewall Pride Parade and Festival was kicking off in Wilton Manors Saturday night, Fort Lauderdale police said. NBC 6’s Julie Leonardi reports.

One man is dead and another man has been injured after a white pickup truck ran over a crowd just as the Stonewall Pride Parade and Festival was kicking off in Wilton Manors Saturday night, Fort Lauderdale police said.

The truck, clad in a rainbow flag, was along the parade route on the southwest corner of NE 15th Street and NE 4th Avenue with other floats. The driver has been apprehended and the Fort Lauderdale Police Department is actively investigating the incident with assistance from the FBI.

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Video obtained by NBC 6 shows people crowded over two bodies on the scene.

Fort Lauderdale Police did not release the names of the victims or the person apprehended and did not comment on whether the incident was an accident, citing the investigation.

Both victims were taken to Broward Health Medical Center. One was pronounced dead, the other victim is expected to survive, police say.

The driver of the pickup truck, who was apprehended, was wearing a Fort Lauderdale Gay Men's Chorus shirt and the president of the organization, Justin Knight, said in a statement that the victims and the driver were all members of the Gay Men's Chorus.

"To my knowledge, this was not an attack on the LGBTQ community. We anticipate more details to follow and ask for the community's love and support." Knight said in the statement.

One witness, who did not want to be named, said that she heard a loud noise. At first she thought it was two cars colliding but then "out of nowhere, we see people just crowding these two bodies."

NBC 6's Marcine Joseph continues our coverage.

NBC 6 Meteorologist Steve MacLaughlin, who served as a co-Grand Marshall for the parade, was at the front of the parade when the incident happened. After delays to the start of the parade, he walked around and he said people were still celebrating.

"I don't know if everyone knew what happened. I heard a lot of rumors and we don't know which ones are true yet," MacLaughlin said. "But, for me personally, it felt like it wasn't a time to celebrate, so I actually came home."

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, who saw the incident happen, described the event as a terrorist attack on the LGBTQ+ community.

But Wilton Manors City Commissioner, Chris Caputo, tweeted that "it seems increasingly probable that it was an accident."

It seems increasingly probable it was an accident. Still filled w sadness. — Chris Caputo (@chris_caputo) June 19, 2021

The parade was canceled due to the incident, but police said other events related to the festival continued and "there is no danger to the public."

Due to a tragic event, the Stonewall Pride Parade has been cancelled but the festival events will continue.

*THERE IS NO DANGER TO THE PUBLIC.* https://t.co/als3T0MG4m — wmpd411 (@WMPD411) June 20, 2021

Florida Representative Debbie Wasserman Shultz, whose car was inches away from where the incident happened, according to a witness, said she was "shaken and devastated" by the events and thanked first responders "for their heroic efforts."

I want to thank our first responders for their heroic efforts as both police and emergency medical personnel stepped into action quickly. — Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (@RepDWStweets) June 20, 2021

Agriculture Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate, Nikki Fried, said she was at the event and tweeted, "All of us here all praying for them and their families."

I’m at the @WiltonManorsCty Stonewall #Pride Parade — a truck just drove into the crowd. The driver is in police custody.

I’m lucky to be safe, but at least two people were hit and are in critical condition.

All of us here all praying for them and their families. — Nikki Fried (@NikkiFried) June 19, 2021

State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle also tweeted her thoughts on the incident saying that "Hate of any kind has #NoPlaceInOurCommunity."

Hate of any kind has #NoPlaceInOurCommunity Hoping & praying those injured will have a speedy recovery. #LoveNotHate #Pride https://t.co/7Ta4Z2F03q — Kathy Rundle (@KathyFndzRundle) June 20, 2021

This is a developing story. Please check back for more details.