On Monday, at least six people were murdered and many more were injured when shots were fired along the route of an Independence Day celebration in Illinois, United States, according to officials. The gunman remained at large as officials struggle to catch him.
A video of the incident was published on social media, in which individuals can be seen fleeing in terror upon hearing gunfire.
Allegedly, the suspect - described as a male White, approximately 18 years old, small-built, longer hair wearing a white and blue shirt was shooting from a roof.
Near the reviewing stand of the parade, a reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times observed blankets covering three bloodied bodies and five additional wounded and bloodied individuals.
The shooting happened in the area of the Independence Day parade route," the Lake County Sheriff's Office said in statement.
"The Illinois State Police is currently assisting Highland Park PD with an active shoot situation that occurred at the Highland Park Parade," the Illinois State police force further tweeted.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office, which is responsible for the area that contains Highland Park, the community near Chicago where the incident occurred, according to an AFP report, also stated that it was aiding with "a shooting in the vicinity of the Independence Day parade route."
The sheriff's office did not specify whether the procession had reached that point on the route when the shooting occurred; however, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the shooting began approximately 10 minutes after the parade. Highland Park announced that all 4th of July celebrations had been canceled.
Local media sites reported nine victims, AFP reported, however authorities did not confirm the number of victims.
US Representative Brad Schneider, who attended the event, tweeted about the tragedy.
"Hearing of loss of life and others injured. My condolences to the family and loved ones; my prayers for the injured and for my community," he wrote, adding: "Enough is enough!"
According to the Gun Violence Archive website, firearms cause around 40,000 deaths annually in the United States, including suicides. Ten Black supermarket customers were were down in upstate New York in May, and 21 people, largely young children, were murdered at an elementary school in Texas, reigniting the extremely controversial debate over gun control in the United States.
In response to these tragedies, Congress passed the first major gun safety legislation in decades. AFP reported that President Joe Biden signed it into law at the end of June, stating that while it falls short of what is required, it will nevertheless save lives.
Here is the incident's video:
