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Chicago shooting: 6 killed in Highland Park July 4 parade massacre; 22-year-old 'person of interest' arrested

The July 4 shooting is just the latest in a series of incidents that have shaken American society. According to the Gun Violence Archive website, firearms cause approximately 40,000 deaths per year in the United States, including suicides.

TN World Desk

Updated Jul 5, 2022, 05:43 IST

(L) Law enforcement search after a mass shooting at the Highland Park Fourth of July parade in downtown Highland Park, Illinois, a Chicago suburb on Monday, July 4, 2022 | (R) This undated handout photo provided by the City of Highland Park Police Department shows Robert (Bobby) E Crimo III

Photo : AP

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

US President Joe Biden said that he and first lady Jill Biden were "shocked by the senseless gun violence that has yet again brought grief to an American community on this Independence Day"
Lake County Major Crime Task Force spokesman Christopher Covelli said that "several of the deceased victims" died at the scene in Highland Park, Illinois
The Federal Bureau of Investigation reportedly assisted the local police in Illinois in their search of 22-year-old Robert E Crimo III

Washington: At least six people were killed on Monday when a gunman armed with a powerful rifle opened fire from a rooftop at a Fourth of July parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park. One of the victims was a Mexican national, according to Roberto Velasco, Mexico's director for North American affairs.

The US Police have arrested the 'person of interest', identified as 22-year-old Robert E Crimo III. "The person of interest in the July 4 shooting at Chicago-area parade is in custody after a brief chase," news agency Associated Press mentioned Highland Park Police chief Lou Jogmen as saying. Crimo is also known as Bobby and hails from the northern suburbs of Chicago.

Earlier on Monday, Jogmen had said that the 22-year-old should be considered "very dangerous" and armed. There was no response from the police regarding how they identified Crimo. His car was described by authorities as a silver 2010 Honda Fit with the Illinois license plate DM 80653 on it.

The gunman opened fire from a nearby rooftop, forcing panicked onlookers to run for their lives. According to police, the shooting began at around 10:14 am.

Lake County Major Crime Task Force spokesman Christopher Covelli said: "It sounds like spectators were targeted... So, very random, very intentional and very sad."

Police Commander Chris O'Neill said the gunman appears to have used a "high-powered rifle" to fire from atop a commercial building, where he was s"very difficult to see". The incident commander on the scene added that a rifle was recovered at the scene. A ladder was also found attached to the building by police.

Five of the six victims, all adults, died at the scene, said Lake County coroner Jennifer Banek. The sixth victim was taken to a hospital, but he eventually succumbed to his injuries.

According to fire chief Joe Schrage, at least one of the injured was a child in critical condition.

In response to the latest shooting, US President Joe Biden expressed shock and vowed to continue fighting "the epidemic of gun violence" sweeping the nation.

"I'm not going to give up," he said.

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