6 dead, 38 injured in mass shooting at Fourth of July parade in Illinois 

At least six people were killed and 38 others wounded during a mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade on Monday in a suburb of Chicago, police reported. 

An independence day parade in Highland Park, a wealthy neighborhood 25 miles north of Chicago, left attendees running for their lives after shots were fired into the crowd at around 10:20 a.m. 

When the shooting started, panicked people started fleeing the parade site, leaving behind chairs, strollers, and blankets. 

“I heard 20 to 25 shots, which were in rapid succession. So it couldn’t have been just a handgun or a shotgun,” said Miles Zaremski, a Highland Park resident. 

A witness told WGN TV that he saw the suspect standing on the sidewalk right before the shooting started. “He was very military-style, methodical in the way he was crouched and shooting,” the witness added.

State Representative Bob Morgan said there were multiple injuries in the incident. 

For those unaware, there was a shooting at the Highland Park Parade. I am ok but there have been multiple injuries. Please stay out of the area, stay safe, and please pray for those injured.

— Bob Morgan (@RepBobMorgan) July 4, 2022

The Chicago Sun-Times reported at least five people dead and 16 others wounded. However, the extent of the injuries remains unknown at this time. 

Highland Park police and backup from other jurisdictions responded to the scene. They are currently looking for the suspect. 

Police are still considering the area “under threat,” and people are urged to stay away.  

“STAY OUT OF THE AREA – allow law-enforcement and first responders to do their work,” the sheriff’s office tweeted.  

“It was a quiet, peaceful, lovely morning, people were enjoying the parade,” said Adrienne Drell, a former reported who was watching the parade. “Within seconds, to have that peacefulness suddenly ripped apart, it’s scary. You can’t go anywhere, you can’t find peace. I think we are falling apart.”

PHOTOS: Police from multiple suburban agencies are on scene for a mass shooting that took place in Highland Park, Illinois, during a 4th of July parade. pic.twitter.com/L6511QjuhF

— Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere (@TylerLaRiviere) July 4, 2022