HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (Fwrd Axis) — At least six people are dead and over 24 were injured in a shooting at a July Fourth parade in Highland Park, according to officials.
The suspect is a white male between 18 to 20 years old, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Police went on to say the suspect appeared to be shooting from a rooftop, and a rifle has been recovered at the scene. The shooting began at 10:14 a.m. local time.
“It does appear that he was shooting from a roof,” Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli told reporters.
Victims were taken to surrounding hospitals, including Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, where eight people were taken, hospital spokesperson Chris King said.
Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker released a statement, calling the attack “the evil unleashed this morning” but added that prayers would not be the answers to solve the problem.
“There are no words for the kind of monster who lies in wait and fires into a crowd of families with children celebrating a holiday with their community. There are no words for the kind of evil that robs our neighbors of their hopes, their dreams, their futures,” Pritzker said in a statement.
“We must — and we will — end this plague of gun violence.”
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering thanked the police for their quick response and added that it was a day of terror instead of joy.
“Our community has been terrorized by an act of violence that’s shaken us to our core,” she said.
“Our hearts go out to the families of the victims at this devastating time. On a day that we came together to celebrate community and freedom, we are instead mourning the tragic loss of life and struggling with the terror that was brought upon us,” she added.
The person of interest was identified by police as Robert “Bobby” E. Crimo III, 22, from the area. They’re looking for a silver, 2010 Honda Fit compact vehicle with Illinois plate DM80653.
He was described as armed and dangerous, and members of the public were warned not to approach him.
Crimo III was spotted in a Honda Fit and described as wanted by the FBI in North Chicago and led police on a chase that lasted several minutes. Crimo surrendered peacefully to North Chicago officers, they said.
Chris Covelli of the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force said Crimo “is believed to have been responsible for what happened, and the investigation will continue.”
This is a developing story and will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
