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Six people have died and at least 24 have been injured following a mass shooting during a July 4 parade in Highland Park, Illinois, police announced. The gunman is still at large.
Highland Park Police Commander Chris O’Neill urged people to shelter in place as authorities search for the suspect, whom he described as "a male, white, approximately 18-20 years old, longer hair, a small build, and wearing a white or blue T-shirt."
A TikTok video making the rounds on social media shows the moment participants of the parade started fleeing after being alerted about a shooting by someone in the crowd.
Police, who were immediately dispatched to the site of the shooting, have recovered a firearm at the scene. Lake County Major Crime Task Force spokesman Christopher Covelli said that the gunman apparently opened fire on parade-goers from a rooftop using a rifle that was recovered at the scene. Covelli said that police believe the suspect gained access to the rooftop "via a ladder in an alley."
Police are using drones and other technology to try and find the killer. A five-mile Temporary Flight Restriction has been put into effect for aircraft flying under 3,000 feet.
Police believe there was only one shooter and warned that he should still be considered armed and dangerous.
Other videos show chairs and strollers that people left behind while fleeing:
"Police are responding to an incident in downtown Highland Park. Fourth Fest has been canceled," the city’s mayor, Nancy Rotering, tweeted.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Independence Day parade began at 10 a.m., but was interrupted 10 minutes later after shots were fired.
The newspaper quoted a local, who said that he counted more than 20 shots, "which were in rapid succession."
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has confirmed that he is "closely monitoring" the situation.
The city of Highland Park is a suburb about 25 miles north of Chicago. Earlier in the day, Chicago police revealed that at least 55 people had been shot, seven fatally, in July 4 weekend gun violence across the city.