Gunshots rang out in Highland Park, a suburb of Chicago, just after the start of the Independence Day parade. According to the authorities, there are 6 dead and two dozen injured. The parade is canceled. The perpetrator is still on the run, a weapon is found.
In the small US town of Highland Park, Illinois, six were killed and two dozen injured after gunshots were fired at an Independence Day parade. According to police, shots were fired in the city, which is about 40 kilometers north of Chicago, 15 to 20 minutes after the parade began. Eyewitnesses report that around 20 to 25 shots were fired. According to the police, the perpetrator is still on the run.
According to the "Dailymail", the shooter is said to have opened fire on the parade from the roof of a shop. Some attendees initially mistook the shots for fireworks, part of the celebrations. Then more and more people started running.
At a press conference, a police representative described the suspected shooter as a white male, aged 18 to 20. A rifle was found at the scene. It is also said that two dozen people have now been hospitalized. Initially, 16 were injured.
The Governor of the State of Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he had received reports that nine people had been injured or killed by gunfire. Congressman Brad Schneider, who wanted to attend Monday's parade, wrote on Twitter: "I hear there have been deaths and injuries."
Lake County Sheriff's Office Nancy Rotering tweeted, "Stay out of the area - let the police and first responders do their job."
Just over 30,000 people live in Highland Park. The suburb is a very affluent area on the outskirts of the metropolis Chicago.
