At least six people were killed when a gunman opened fire during a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois…
According to CNN, a gunman opened fire shortly after 10:00 a.m., as members of the public gathered along Central Avenue for the day’s Fourth of July festivities.
According to police commander Chris O’Neill, the shots were fired from a nearby rooftop, and officers later recovered a “high-powered rifle” from the scene.
Witnesses say people frantically attempted to flee the scene as shots rang out. SWAT officers also assisted with the evacuation of residents from buildings within a certain radius of the shooting.
According to Christopher Covelli, a spokesperson for the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, the gunman gained access to the rooftop by using a ladder that descended into an alley on the building’s side.
According to Covelli, the attack was “intentional,” with the gunman’s victims being “random.”
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek revealed that the six people killed in the attack were all adults. Five of them died at the scene, and one died later in a hospital from their injuries.
Another 23 people were transported to nearby hospitals by the Highland Park Fire Department, while other victims were transported by police and members of the public.
According to Dr. Brigham Temple, the medical director of NorthShore University Health System, a total of 26 patients were admitted to Highland Park Hospital, with a small number of them being children. They ranged in age from eight to 85 years.
According to CNN, 19 of the 25 gunshot victims have been treated and released.
The FBI has since confirmed that Robert E. Crimo III was apprehended by police on Monday evening.
According to authorities, Crimo was spotted by a North Chicago officer who attempted a traffic stop. Following his designation as a “person of interest,” a massive manhunt was launched throughout the Chicagoland area.
The FBI later confirmed that they were looking for Crimo, saying, “He is being sought for his alleged involvement in the shooting of multiple individuals at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois.”
According to Kim Nerheim, a spokesperson for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, officials are now working to trace the firearm’s origins and determine who purchased it.
According to BBC News, city mayor Nancy Rotering issued a statement saying, “On a day when we gathered to celebrate community and freedom, we are instead mourning the tragic loss of life.”
Witness Noel Hara told BBC News that he was having breakfast in Starbucks at the time of the shooting and that “about 30 people suddenly came rushing in screaming and we were locked into the Starbucks bathroom.”
“Moments later, they evacuated us from the Starbucks because they thought the shooter was trying to get in the back door.”
Another witness said he was about 100 meters away from the shooter, and described the weapon as “the type of gun where it releases a lot of bullets in a very short amount of time. Incredibly loud.”
Speaking about gun crime in the suburban area of Highland Park, they added: “I felt so safe here and this is very surreal. We’re hiding in a shelter now keeping safe, there’s people crying. It’s not a good feeling, at all.”
According to the Gun Violence Archive, the incident in Highland Park on Monday was the 308th mass shooting in the United States this year.
Our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected by this tragedy.
