Shortly after 10:00 local (15:00 GMT), a number of gunfire were heard, and the Highland Park event was immediately stopped. Residents have been encouraged to stay at home and call their loved ones to ensure their safety.
Officials from the city claim that 24 people were also hospitalized after the shooting.
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.
