At least six people were killed and two dozen others injured when a gunman opened fire at a Fourth of July parade in a northern Chicago suburb on Monday, police said.
The shooting happened “in the area of the Independence Day parade route,” Lake County Sheriff’s Office said, just after 10 a.m. local time in downtown Highland Park. Chris Covelli of the Sheriff’s Office said the gunman — who they described as a white male around 18 to 20 years old with black hair — had used a rifle and fired shots from a rooftop just moments after the parade began, according to the New York Times.
He said the shooting “appears to be completely random.”
Highland Park Police said they had added a perimeter around the suburb’s downtown on Monday afternoon and encouraged people to shelter in place as the gunman remained at-large.
“Highland Park Police are responding to an active shooter incident that occurred in downtown Highland Park during the 4th of July parade,” the city of Highland Park wrote in a statement. “This is an active incident. All individuals are advised to shelter in place. Law enforcement agencies are searching for the suspect; evidence of a firearm has been recovered. Numerous law enforcement officers are responding and have secured a perimeter around downtown Highland Park. 16 people have been transferred to the hospital; 5 individuals are confirmed deceased.”
Illinois State Police said on Twitter that the agency is “assisting Highland Park PD with an active shoot situation.”
Today a shooter struck in Highland Park during the Independence Day parade. My campaign team and I were gathering at the start of the parade when the shooting started. My team and I are safe and secure. We are monitoring the situation closely and in touch with the Mayor.
— Brad Schneider (@Schneider4IL10) July 4, 2022
Representative Brad Schneider (D., Ill.) said he and his campaign team were “gathering at the start of the parade when shooting started.” Schneider was at the Highland Park event when shots rang out.
“My team and I are safe and secure,” he said. “We are monitoring the situation closely and in touch with the Mayor.”
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering said Monday, “On a day that we came together to celebrate community and freedom, we’re instead mourning the loss, the tragic loss, of life, and struggling with the terror that was brought upon us.”