US: 6 dead, 24 injured in mass shooting at Independence Day parade in Chicago

Authorities said Monday that a mass shooting erupted during an Independence Day parade in a Chicago suburb in Illinois, USA, killing at least six people and injuring 24 others.

According to agency reports, a large number of paradegoers, some of whom are injured and bloodied, flood the area. Witnesses reported seeing bloodied bodies wrapped in blankets as hundreds of people fled for safety. 

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the parade began around 10 a.m. but was abruptly halted 10 minutes later after shots were fired. A Sun-Times reporter observed blankets covering three bloodied bodies. Several witnesses reported hearing gunfire, according to the newspaper. 

Police told people: “Everybody disperse, please. It is dangerous to be here.”

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A social media photo appeared to show blood pools near upturned chairs in downtown Highland Park. 
J.B. Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, said in a tweet that he is “closely monitoring the situation in Highland Park” and that Illinois State Police are assisting. 

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said on Twitter that it is assisting Highland Park Police “with a shooting near the parade route.” The sheriff’s office advised an Associated Press reporter to contact Highland Park Police. According to the Police Department, no one was immediately available to speak about the incident. 

Debbie Glickman, a Highland Park resident, said she was on a parade float with coworkers and was about to turn onto the main route when she noticed the crash.

People started saying: ‘There’s a shooter, there’s a shooter, there’s a shooter,’” Glickman told the Associated Press. “So we just ran. We just ran. It’s like mass chaos down there.”

She didn’t hear any noises or see anyone who appeared to be injured.

 “I’m so freaked out,” she said. “It’s just so sad.”