A shooter opened fire in the middle of a 4th of July parade. According to the authorities, six people were killed and more than 20 injured were taken to hospital. The attacker is believed to have fired from a rooftop. A long-range rifle was recovered at the crime scene. Police have announced that they are searching for the shooter.
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering told a news conference that the community is terrified. And she described what happened as “an act of violence that has shaken us to the core. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims during this devastating time“.
“We are tirelessly searching for the responsible individual“, that’s how the sheriff’s department spokesman described the search effort.
My video.. I was at #Highland Park parade.. Terrified people fleeing July 4th parade when shooting started. pic.twitter.com/DSe0NJOuem
— Lynn Sweet (@lynnsweet) July 4, 2022
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Highland Park is a suburb where, according to 2020 figures, at least 300,000 people reside. It is located 40 kilometers from Chicago.
The president of the United States, Joe Biden, reacted to what happened. In a statement released by the White House, the president and first lady said they were “shocked by senseless gun violence“.
“I recently signed the first major bipartisan gun reform bill in nearly 30 years, including measures that will save lives. But there is much more work to be done, and I will not give up fighting the epidemic of gun violence“, he concluded.