Last Updated on July 4, 2022
At least six people have been killed and 31 wounded after a gunman randomly opened fire on a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois. The shooter has yet to be apprehended.
Police described the suspect as a White male between the ages of 18 and 20 with long hair and a “small build.” Hundreds of state and federal law enforcement officers have been conducting a manhunt since the gunman managed to flee the scene.
Fourth of July celebrations in neighboring communities have now been cancelled.
Police recovered a “high-powered” rifle from the scene but still consider the suspect to be armed and dangerous. Residents of Highland Park and neighboring communities have been warned to stay on guard and shelter in place if possible.
The parade was about three-quarters of the way through when the shooting broke out, authorities said. Authorities are also asking anyone with video footage of the massacre to come forward.
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A number of cell phone videos captured the moment the shooting began. A rapid succession of shots can be heard while authorities have said the gunman targeted spectators at random.
In addition, police confirmed earlier reports that the gunman fired from the roof of a building that was on the parade route. Evidence of a shooting has been documented on the roof, which is also where the rifle was recovered.
The shooter has not been apprehended or identified as of Monday afternoon. “This person is not identified. By all means, at this point, this appears to be completely random,” Lake County Deputy Sheriff Chris Covelli told reporters.
The NorthShore University Health System said it has a total of 31 patients; most suffered gunshot wounds and a few were hurt in the chaos.
Highland Park is a suburb of Chicago, located about 24 miles from the city’s center.
This is a developing story.
