Multiple people have been killed after shots were fired along the Fourth of July parade route in Chicago’s Highland Park neighborhood.
**LIVE UPDATES** All times eastern.
4:56 PM — Still scant details on the ongoing manhunt:
Illinois State Police SWAT just raced down Green Bay Road heading south across Central Avenue in #HighlandPark. pic.twitter.com/WI2UZ1tdbD
— Kasey Chronis (@KaseyChronisTV) July 4, 2022
4:53 PM — Another video angle:
Police are still searching for the suspected gunman.
At least 6 people killed and 24 were wounded in the #shooting.#HighlandPark #Chicago #FourthOfJulyParade #FourthOfJulyMassacre— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) July 4, 2022
4:37 PM — Some new details:
#HighlandPark update: five adults pronounced dead at the parade, a sixth victim died at a hospital
-At least 23 others hospitalized, including a child in “critical condition”
-Gunman gained access to roof of a business by “unsecured ladder” and is still at large @WBBMNewsradio
— Andy Dahn (@thisisandydahn) July 4, 2022
At least one person transported to the hospital was a child, per fire chief, was critically injured.
No age range of those injured.
— Andrew Havranek (@Andrew_Havranek) July 4, 2022
Shooter was on top of a roof of a business. Access via a ladder attached to building from an alley was not secure, per police #HighlandPark
— Andrew Havranek (@Andrew_Havranek) July 4, 2022
4:31 PM — Little new information from police’s third press conference of the day:
#BREAKING: Per Highland Park Police, people located in area near mass shooting are to continue to shelter in place. Gunman is still at large. Asking public to come forward with any information. Six people are dead. All adults. #HighlandPark
— Zachery Lashway (@ZachLashway) July 4, 2022
4:28 PM — No July 4 fireworks for the Chicago White Sox:
Our hearts are with the Highland Park community. pic.twitter.com/QMfJ9xdfoj
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 4, 2022
4:23 PM — New video appears to show a moment when the suspect reloads and continues firing, as attendees realize an assault is happening:
New video emerges from the #HighlandPark Illinois parade #MassShooting. 52 total rounds were fired, reloaded once, and stop shooting early presumably to flee in a crowd. Police are requesting a video. pic.twitter.com/oStdZ2rbec
— Joshua Jered (@Joshuajered) July 4, 2022
4:21 PM — Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton: “There are too many guns on our streets.”
Enough is enough.
No community should experience what happened today in #HighlandPark. #EndGunViolence pic.twitter.com/jk6BUnrKVQ
— Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton (@LtGovStratton) July 4, 2022
4:07 PM — Nearby areas are canceling Independence Day events and urging residents to shelter in place:
City of Evanston closes all beaches and cancels fireworks show out of an abundance of caution #HighlandPark
https://t.co/AfP5EB7y0L— CNNWynn (@WynnWs) July 4, 2022
While there is no active threat in Glencoe, Public Safety will be actively patrolling throughout the Village out of an abundance of caution as Highland Park continues to secure their active shooter incident. We urge residents to shelter in place.
— GlencoePublicSafety (@GlencoePS) July 4, 2022
4:04 PM — In a statement reacting to the shooting, President Joe Biden touts the new bill he signed which promotes states enacting “red flag,” proto-social credit system laws for gun confiscation:
.@POTUS statement on the shooting in Highland Park, IL: pic.twitter.com/e96RrNhw2t
— Herbie Ziskend (@HerbieZiskend46) July 4, 2022
4:02 PM — One victim identified.
The family of Nicolas Toledo tells me he was one of the people shot and killed at the Highland Park 4th of July Parade. “We are all feeling pretty numb. We’re all pretty broken inside,” his granddaughter said. She shared these photos with @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/rDtiq5ijrL
— Tim McNicholas (@TimMcNicholas) July 4, 2022
3:47 PM —
Red Cross vols who were supposed to march in Evanston parade that was cancelled after shooting in #HighlandPark are here providing water & snacks for law enforcement. @WBBMNewsradio pic.twitter.com/OdOi9RQvtV
— Nancy Harty (@newsnance) July 4, 2022
3:23 PM — Very wide search area for ongoing manhunt.
Highland Park Police say shooter was “discreet and difficult to see” when he was shooting from roof of building.
— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) July 4, 2022
Shooter “could be in the city. He could be somewhere else” according to Highland Park Police.
— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) July 4, 2022
3:18 PM — Police begin a new press conference.
“Some critical, some serious,” @LakeCountyIL investigator Chris Covelli says of those wounded in the #HighlandPark #July4th mass shooting. The weapon used was “a high-powered rifle” and “spectators were targeted — very random, very intentional.” pic.twitter.com/fhiRoYXKb4
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) July 4, 2022
Lake County police say at briefing there are “close to 30” shooting victims at various hospitals, conditions range from critical to serious. Police are asking for cell phone video footage. “Very intentional, very sad day,” Officer Christopher Covelli says. #HighlandPark
— Niala (@NialaBoodhoo) July 4, 2022
#BREAKING
Authorities 2nd presser re: #HighlandPark, Ill., shooting: (Highland Park Police Sgt Chris Covelli) “What I know as of now, several of the deceased victims, unfortunately, perished at the scene.”#HighlandParkShooting— Devon Heinen (@DevonHeinen) July 4, 2022
3:06 PM — Highland Park is one local jurisdiction that at least previously banned “assault weapons” and magazines with more than ten rounds of ammunition. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the law in 2015. Breitbart’s Ken Klukowski wrote at the time:
The city of Highland Park is part of the greater Chicago area and has a long track record of opposing citizens exercising the Second Amendment’s right to keep and bear arms. Part of this is banning “assault weapons,” which is a term invented by politicians.
Assault weapons are not an actual class of firearms. The term is often confused with “assault rifles,” which are a class of firearms. But for most such bans, “assault weapons” excludes some types of assault rifles and includes guns that are not assault rifles.
3:02 PM — More photos and videos:
A Lake County police officer walks through chairs and bikes left behind on the Central Avenue parade route sidewalk near the scene of the Highland Park mass shooting.
‘It was chaotic,’ reports of 6 dead, 2 dozen others shot during Fourth of July parade https://t.co/kWBnLbO2nS pic.twitter.com/AgfvWCBJI4
— Brian Cassella (@briancassella) July 4, 2022
FBI Agents just escorted people from the scene of the deadly parade shooting in downtown Highland Park. @nbcchicago pic.twitter.com/BmDIuZKZPu
— Patrick Fazio (@PatrickFazio) July 4, 2022
Video of the shooting: Manhunt underway for the shooter who is described as a white male, with long hair, and a blue shirt 18-20 y/o. All metro transit has stopped and all local events have been canceled. #HighlandPark pic.twitter.com/wEhh6K0tD8
— Joshua Jered (@Joshuajered) July 4, 2022
Exact moments as shots are heard as a mass shooting unfolds in Highland Park during a 4th of July parade celebration. #highlandpark #masshooting pic.twitter.com/kAPpr52OBg
— CHICAGO CRITTER (@ChicagoCritter) July 4, 2022
2:54 PM — Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker calls for gun control: “prayers alone will not put a stop to the terror of rampant gun violence in our country.”
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) July 4, 2022
2:43 PM — State Senator Julie Morrison, whose family was in attendance, becomes an early voice calling for gun control in response to the attack.
“I will never attend a parade again,” IL State @SenatorMorrison tells @WGNNews. “We’ve become almost unaffected by gun violence…” and then it happens in your community. #HighlandPark https://t.co/KWS97Fft6u
— Andy Sternberg (@andysternberg) July 4, 2022
The only way we can end this crisis is for our state & federal government to pass the laws that we’ve all been demanding. Thank you to the first responders who bravely stepped into an active shooting & undoubtedly saved hundreds of lives today. I pray for healing for the victims.
— Julie Morrison (@SenatorMorrison) July 4, 2022
2:41 PM — Manhunt for the suspect is going door to door:
Police in #HighlandPark say swat teams are going door to door looking for suspect wanted for killing 6 people and wounding 25 at #July4th parade. @WBBMNewsradio pic.twitter.com/uGm5phwrQn
— Nancy Harty (@newsnance) July 4, 2022
2:38 PM — New details from an AP wire:
Hundreds of parade-goers in Highland Park — some visibly bloodied — fled the parade route, leaving behind chairs, baby strollers and blankets. Authorities have not officially reported any casualties, but witnesses described seeing bloodied bodies apparently covered with blankets.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the parade began around 10 a.m. but was suddenly halted 10 minutes later after shots were fired.
2:32 PM — New video of the moment shots were first fired:
ABC News obtained this video from Gina Troiani-Solorio. You can hear the moment shots are fired at the start of a July 4 parade in Highland Park, Illinois. At least 6 people were killed. #HighlandPark pic.twitter.com/zlVOPLBKZn
— Channing Frampton (@Channing_TV) July 4, 2022
2:13 PM — Chicago Sun-Times columnist shares graphic photo of blood and bodies on the ground, plus video of parade attendees fleeing:
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
2:05 PM — Six people are confirmed dead and 24 more hospitalized. Police give a description of the suspect and say a rifle was found at the scene:
NEW Police Update on July 4th Mass Shooting in Illinois:
– 6 dead, 24 others sent to hospital
– Shelter in place in place in Highland Park
– Police: suspect is white man, 18-20 years old
– rifle was recovered on scene#HighlandPark @nbcbayarea— Christine Ni 倪君怡 (@christineniSF) July 4, 2022
Highland Park, Illinois Police say 16 people have been taken to hospitals — and 5 people are confirmed dead after shooting at 4th of July parade. Police calling it an active incident — they say residents should shelter in place. Perimeter has been secured around downtown.
— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) July 4, 2022
Authorities say they believe the suspect was shooting from a roof.
They are still searching for the gunman described as a white male, 18 to 20 years old. Longer black hair. #HighlandPark
— Brandon Hamilton (@BHAMonTV) July 4, 2022
Highland Park, Illinois Police say suspect is a white male 18-20 years old, longer black hair, small build, wearing a white or blue t-shirt. Firearm recovered from the scene.
— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) July 4, 2022
Original story begins below.
ABC 7 notes that “the parade was stopped about 10 minutes after it kicked off at 10 a.m.,” when the sound of gunfire rang out.
Police told parade attendees, “Everybody disperse, please. It is not safe to be here.”
Chairs, blankets, and baby strollers were left behind as people scrambled for cover.
FOX 32 reports that a Chicago Sun-Times “saw blankets covering three bloodied bodies and five other people wounded and bloodied near the parade’s reviewing stand.”
The Sun-Times notes that 5 people were killed and 16 wounded in the incident.
Newsmax correspondent Alex Salvi tweeted, “There are reportedly multiple fatalities following a shooting at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois.” He went on to write, “Warning: Gunshots heard in below video”:
There are reportedly multiple fatalities following a shooting at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois.
Warning: Gunshots heard in below video.pic.twitter.com/F0BrsEXIS8
— Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) July 4, 2022
Breitbart News pointed out that at least 54 people were shot Friday into Monday morning in Chicago. Seven of the shooting victims succumbed to their wounds.
AWR Hawkins is an award-winning Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and the writer/curator of Down Range with AWR Hawkins, a weekly newsletter focused on all things Second Amendment, also for Breitbart News. He is the political analyst for Armed American Radio and a Turning Point USA Ambassador. Follow him on Instagram: @awr_hawkins. Reach him at [email protected]. You can sign up to get Down Range at breitbart.com/downrange.
