Mass panic ensued as the sound of gunshots erupted during a Fourth of July Parade in the northern Chicago suburb of Highland Park, Illinois Monday morning. Several people are reported to have been shot in the attack. Nearby towns have canceled their parades as a caution against similar attacks.
From a normal parade to panic in seconds:
A young boy filming the parade captured the moment the gunshots were heard and the ensuing chaos.
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Active shooter in Highland Park, IL. Avoid Central Ave. My nephew recorded this video. pic.twitter.com/nUFRElrVZi
— eNreeKaii (@Ri_Kayyy) July 4, 2022
WLS-TV reported a man was seen shooting from a building (excerpt):
Sources said the person could be shooting from atop a high building.
The parade route was near Central Avenue and Second Street.
The parade was stopped about 10 minutes after it kicked off at 10 a.m. when shots were fired, striking an unknown number of parade-goers and sending hundreds of people running for safety.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported on the attack (excerpt):
The Highland Park Fourth of July parade ended in panic when shots were fired about 10 minutes after the parade kicked off at 10 a.m. Monday, striking an unknown number of parade-goers and sending hundreds of people running for safety.
Multiple people were shot. A Chicago Sun-Times reporter saw blankets covering three bloodied bodies and five other people wounded and bloodied near the parade’s reviewing stand.
Several witnesses said they heard multiple shots fired. One witness said he counted more than 20 shots.
Miles Zaremski, a Highland Park resident, told the Sun-Times: “I heard 20 to 25 shots, which were in rapid succession. So it couldn’t have been just a handgun or a shotgun.”
Veteran Sun-Times reporter Lynn Sweet posted from the scene: “Bloodbath.”
Bloodbath at #Highland Park July 4th parade.. I was there.. story at @suntimes pic.twitter.com/zuUQMO7Dxy
— Lynn Sweet (@lynnsweet) July 4, 2022
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
Nearby towns canceling their Independence Day parades:
Deerfield, Illinois, “Due to a shooting in Highland Park, Family Days activities at Jewett Park have been cleared and the parade is canceled. Please share that the parade activities are canceled with your family and friends.”
Due to a shooting in Highland Park, Family Days activities at Jewett Park have been cleared and the parade is canceled. Please share that the parade activities are canceled with your family and friends.
— Village of Deerfield (@Deerfield_IL) July 4, 2022
Parade in Glenview canceled:
An unhappy 4th of July in Glenview after the parade was canceled as a precaution following shooting in Highland Park. ???????? @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/99RNlsyeD0
— Ryan Baker (@RyanBakerMedia) July 4, 2022