Shooting took place in downtown Highland Park just after the annual Independence Day Parade begins at 10 a.m. local time along the Chicago suburb’s boulevard in front of Lake Michigan.
What is known so far about the shooting in Highland Park?
local newspaper Chicago Sun-Times Told that the parade started at around 10 am, but It suddenly stopped 10 minutes after gunshots were heard.
Hundreds of parade-goers, some covered in blood, fled, leaving behind chairs, strollers and blankets.
Some witnesses interviewed by local media reported that it was practically a human stampede.
Videos on social networks show how people watching the parade get up after hearing gunshots and start running. The officials asked people to take shelter and avoid the area.
Sean Coutreau, a witness interviewed by the newspaper new York Times He said the parade began with a marching band and seconds later he began to hear gunshots just a few feet away: “My wife looks up and shouts, ‘Get up, run. Get up, run.’ I could see the gunman” who was on the roof of a cosmetics store shooting.
What is known about the Highland Park shooter
the police highland park He said officials were still searching for the suspect.
The suspect is a young white man with dark hair and is 20 years old. Highland Park Police Commander Chris O’Neill said.
Officials told the attacker was “dangerous”. And he shot from the ceiling. At least one weapon was recovered by the authorities.
He told the media at a news conference that he had set up a perimeter around the city center where the annual parade was taking place.
Rep. Brad Schneider, who lives in Highland Park and represents the state’s 10th congressional district, told Nation World News that the shooter is still hiding in Highland Park.
Sergeant Chris Coveli of the Lake County Crime Task Force told a news conference that a “high-powered rifle” had been used.
“What I would say at this point is that this was a high powered rifle. I can’t go into details right now. We will release that information as soon as possible. We walk a fine line with any criminal investigation where I I don’t want to provide too much extraneous information.” “It could negatively affect the work of our detectives,” Covelli said during a Monday afternoon news conference in Highland Park.
where is highland park
Highland Park is a suburb of Chicago that is home to about 30,000 people.
It is located on the shores of Lake Michigan, about 25 miles north of downtown Chicago.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said her city’s police department was providing assistance to Highland Park. “Police is working hard to stop the attacker,” he said.
What is known about the victims and the wounded
Police say at least Six people died, five adults and one child. Police did not provide any details about those killed or injured, names or ages.
Officials said 31 were taken to regional hospitals.
Nation World News reported that at least 26 people were taken Northshore Highland Park Hospital. on the other hand, other five people were taken Hospital Northshore Evanston, Trauma Center.
According to Northshore University Health System spokesman Jim Anthony, the “vast majority” of the victims suffered gunshot wounds.
Local Mayor Nancy Rottering said at a news conference, “Our condolences are with the families of the victims at this devastating time. On a day when we come together to celebrate community and freedom, we are instead mourning the tragic loss of life.” We are grieving and battling the terror that has brought us.”
Rottering addressed residents after the shooting, urging them to be on “high alert”.
What about celebrations in nearby cities
The neighboring city of Evanston, which also shares a beach with Lake Michigan, decided to cancel all of its celebrations and fireworks. It has also closed all its beaches as a precaution.
In any case, the City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications, as well as the Chicago Police itself, are monitoring the Highland Park shooting and have stated that there is “no known threat” to Chicago at this time.
Northbrook, another Chicago suburb a few miles southwest of Highland Park, canceled all events for the rest of the day, including parades and fireworks. Deerfield, Skokie, Glencoe and Glenview have also canceled their parades as a precaution.
What the federal government says about this new shooting
In Washington, President Joe Biden expressed his shock at “the senseless gun violence plaguing an American community once again this Independence Day.”
He promised investigators “the full support of the federal government” and said he would monitor the situation closely. Biden noted that he had recently enacted a gun safety law, but added: “There’s a lot of work to be done, and I’m not going to stop fighting the gun violence epidemic.”
Attorney General Merrick Garland was informed of the shooting and is monitoring the situation. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is assisting with the investigation and examining the gun and ammunition found at the scene.
