A lawyer appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to the state's economic development agency was shot in the head and critically wounded in Flatbush early Monday morning.

Officials say the Harvard-educated lawyer was struck by a random bullet on Bedford Avenue at around 3:40 a.m. The victim, identified as 43-year-old Carey Gabay, was appointed by Cuomo as first deputy counsel of the Empire State Development Corporation. He previously served as assistant counsel to the governor, according to Cuomo's website.

The governor says that Gabay was walking with his brother near the West Indian American Day Parade when he was shot.

"This tragic shooting, this one by another seemingly random bullet, is the latest heartbreaking reminder that the crime of gun violence must stop," Cuomo said in a statement. "Enough young, innocent people have died, and it must stop now."

Cuomo describes Gabay as living the "American Dream." Gabay climbed out of poverty, became a lawyer and secured a job for the governor.

Sources say Gabay is surrounded by his family, including his wife who is pregnant with their first child.

The shooting was among a rash of violence in the run-up to the annual West Indian Day Parade.

Police responded to Eastern Parkway and Plaza Street East at Grand Army Plaza at 2:05 a.m. They say one man was found with stab wounds to the torso and another man was shot in the buttocks.

Police say that the 24-year-old man who was stabbed was taken to New York Methodist Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The other victim, age 21, was also taken to New York Methodist and is listed in stable condition.

No arrests have been made, and the investigations are ongoing.

Police say they have stepped up patrols along the parade route.

Local officials say they are pushing for an effort to confine pre-parade festivities to one confined area in the future in an attempt to prevent violence.

AP wire services contributed to this report.