Authorities said a mass shooting at an Independence Day parade in a suburb outside of Chicago on Monday left at least six people dead, injured around two dozen others, and launched a massive manhunt for an unidentified shooter who opened fire on unwary spectators from a rooftop.
Just after 10 a.m. CT, the shooting in Highland Park, roughly 25 miles north of Chicago, started as parade spectators took in a sunny Fourth of July march along Central Avenue.
According to Christopher Covelli, spokesman for the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, “We are actively searching for the person accountable for this shooting.”
The assailant has been named by police as a Caucasian male between the ages of 18 and 20, who is “armed and dangerous” and appears to have chosen at random to open fire on parade spectators while using a potent rifle.
The suspect has not yet been apprehended, despite the fact that police continued to hunt for him more than six hours later, focusing their efforts with the aid of police dogs and drones on the parade route, the downtown area, and the central business district.
Residents in this location, which the police referred to as an “active crime scene,” were told to stay indoors.
Beaches have been closed off, nearby suburbs are now under lockdown, and regional parades and fireworks displays have been postponed.
Just a few minutes after the parade started (10:15 local time/15:15 GMT), the alleged shooter started firing at it. As part of the city’s Independence Day festivities, floats, marching bands, and other community entertainment were planned for the event.
