8 shot in New York on Fourth of July

NEW YORK, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Eight people, including four children, were shot on Saturday night in New York City's Coney Island, according to local police.

An unknown man dressed in black and wearing a black ski mask approached and fired multiple rounds on a family barbecue in the front yard of an apartment building, said New York Police Department commissioner Jessica Tisch. Coney Island is located in the borough of Brooklyn.

A 21-year-old woman shot in the chest is in critical condition, and the remaining victims are in stable condition, said Tisch in a briefing on Sunday morning. The four children's ages range from 6 to 14 years old, she added.

The police recovered a firearm at the scene. No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing, said Tisch.

Moreover, a police officer was shot in the vest in an unprovoked shooting in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Crown Heights in the early morning on Sunday.

The detective suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

An 18-year-old suspect has been arrested with a gun recovered, according to Tisch.

There were many outdoor activities in New York City to celebrate Independence Day, or the Fourth of July, marking the United States' 250th anniversary.