July 4, 2022 Highland Park, Illinois, parade shooting

By Aditi Sangal, Elise Hammond, Maureen Chowdhury, Mike Hayes, Melissa Macaya, Steve Almasy and Ritu Prasad, CNN

Updated 3:48 p.m. ET, July 5, 2022
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6:16 p.m. ET, July 4, 2022

Suspect is considered armed and dangerous, officials say

From CNN’s Joe Sutton and Claudia Dominguez

Police work at the scene of the shooting on Monday.
Police work at the scene of the shooting on Monday. (Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)

Highland Park Police is leading the investigation and the Lake County Major Crime Task Force is working directly with the FBI, said the task force spokesperson Chris Covelli in a news conference on Monday.

The suspect is still considered to be armed and dangerous and that there is no indication that he is barricaded anywhere or has any hostages, Covelli said.

He did not disclose the ages of those killed in the shooting, adding that local officials are working with the coroners’ office.

At least six people were killed in the Highland Park Independence Day Parade shooting, officials confirmed. At least 31 have been taken to area hospitals, CNN's Brynn Gingras reported.

6:16 p.m. ET, July 4, 2022

Illinois lawmaker says he is still sheltering in Highland Park while police search for alleged shooter

Chairs and blankets are left abandoned after the shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, on Monday.
Chairs and blankets are left abandoned after the shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, on Monday. (Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)

Rep. Brad Schneider, who lives in Highland Park, Illinois, and represents the state's 10th Congressional District, says he is still sheltering while police look for the alleged shooter who killed six people at a 4th of July parade.

Schneider said everyone is staying inside and waiting to hear from authorities who are just beginning their investigation. There is a perimeter around the downtown area and residents are urged to stay indoors, officials said at a news conference on Monday.

The lawmaker said he participates in several parades on the 4th of July and was just getting into town when shots were fired and he and his team were "told to detour."

"Everyone scattered and ran. As I was going around, I came across a group of young kids who were trying to call their parents to say they were okay, so I stopped and offered to let them use my phone," he told CNN.

He said the community "will come together."

"We will find strength in the support of each other, but it's going to take a while to recover and heal," Schneider said.

6:15 p.m. ET, July 4, 2022

Witness describes people "stampeding away" when the shooting started

Lynn Sweet, the Washington Bureau Chief for the Chicago Sun-Times, described a chaotic scene at the 4th of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, where a gunman killed at least six people.

Sweet said she was at the parade and saw people "stampeding away" from where she was standing, yelling that someone was shooting. She said she went back towards where people were running from and saw "multiple people shot."

"This has always been a community highlight, a thing that brings everybody together, and then the shooting started and everybody just ran, not knowing what to do," Sweet said.

She said walked through the streets of the parade, she saw backpacks and baby carriages left on the ground as people ran away.

Watch a video Sweet took when the shooting started.

6:15 p.m. ET, July 4, 2022

Here's where the Highland Park shooting took place

At least six people have been killed in a shooting in downtown Highland Park, Illinois, in the area of a July 4th parade, authorities said.

At least 31 people have been transported to area hospitals, CNN's Brynn Gingras reported.

Here's a look at the area where the shooting unfolded:

6:15 p.m. ET, July 4, 2022

At least 31 people with injuries from Highland Park shooting have been transported to area hospitals

From CNN’s Brynn Gingras

Police respond at the scene of the shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, on Monday.
Police respond at the scene of the shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, on Monday. (Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)

At least 26 individuals were transported to NorthShore Highland Park Hospital, according to spokesperson Jim Anthony with the NorthShore University Health System.

Five other individuals were transported to NorthShore Evanston Hospital which is a level one trauma facility.

The two facilities are 30 minutes or 12 miles apart.

At least 20 additional doctors were brought into the Highland Park facility in a short time to respond to the shooting, according to Anthony.

The “vast majority” of victims suffered gunshot wounds according to NorthShore University Health System spokesperson Jim Anthony. 

There were some injuries caused by the chaos following the shooting.

6:15 p.m. ET, July 4, 2022

Highland Park mayor urges residents to remain indoors and on "high alert" as situation is still "active"

Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering (WBBM)

Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering addressed residents following the deadly Fourth of July parade shooting, urging them to remain on "high alert" as the situation continues to be "active."

"What we know at this time is this is an active situation and we urge everyone to remain indoors and be on high alert, but remain calm. Please contact your loved ones and ensure that they're safe and let them know that you're safe as well. This situation, as you know, is evolving rapidly and we will continue to update you as we gain information and stabilize the situation," the mayor said.

Rotering said the shooting "terrorized" the community and she sent her condolences to those impacted.

"This morning at 10:14, our community was terrorized by an act of violence that has shaken us to our core. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims during this devastating time. On a day that we came together to celebrate community and freedom, we're instead mourning the tragic loss of life and struggling with the terror that was brought upon us," Rotering said.

The mayor also thanked the first responders who were on scene during the shooting.

6:46 p.m. ET, July 4, 2022

Police have recovered rifle from scene and believe suspect was shooting from a roof, official says

(WBBM)
(WBBM)

Sgt. Christopher Covelli, from the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, said police have recovered a rifle from the scene of the deadly shooting at a 4th of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois.

Covelli said he could not release details about where the gun was found, but he said it did appear that the shooter was "shooting from a roof," but did not have information about which roof specifically.

The official said the suspect is not in custody, adding that it is a very active scene and that at this point, the shooting appears to be “completely random.” He also said at this point in the investigation, police believe there was only one shooter.

There is a perimeter around the downtown area and residents are urged to stay indoors, officials said. They also said that it does not appear that the suspect is barricaded anywhere and they are looking to identify the shooter.

Authorities are asking that anyone with video to contact Highland Park police at 847-432-7720.

CNN’s Claudia Dominguez contributed reporting to this post.

6:14 p.m. ET, July 4, 2022

Suspect is "a male White, approximately 18 to 20 years old, with longer black hair," police say

Cmdr. Chris O'Neill, Highland Park Police
Cmdr. Chris O'Neill, Highland Park Police (WBBM)

Cmdr. Chris O'Neill from the Highland Park Police said that law enforcement is still searching for the suspect.

O'Neill provided the following description:

"The suspect is currently described as a male White, approximately 18 to 20 years old, with longer black hair, a small build, and wearing a white or blue t-shirt," he said.

O'Neill said a firearm has been recovered from the scene of the shooting.

The police commander urged individuals in the area to shelter in place at this time.

"We have secured the perimeter around downtown highland park and are continuing our searches."
6:14 p.m. ET, July 4, 2022

At least 6 dead and two dozen injured after shooting in Highland Park, Illinois

A police officer stands guard at the scene of the shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, on Monday.
A police officer stands guard at the scene of the shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, on Monday. (Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)

At least six people were killed and two dozen were injured in the shooting at the Highland Park parade, Cmdr. Chris O’Neil, incident commander, told reporters.

O’Neil said that authorities are still looking for the suspect which they describe as a White male between 18-20 years old and is wearing a white or blue t-shirt.

Authorities consider this an active incident.