At least six people have been killed after a gunman opened fire at Illinois' Highland Park during a 4th of July parade...
As reported by CNN, police say a gunman opened fire shortly after 10:00AM - as members of the public gathered for the day's 4th of July festivities along Central Avenue.
Authorities believe the shots were fired from a nearby rooftop, with officers later recovering a "high-powered rifle" from the scene, per police commander Chris O'Neill.
As shots started ringing out, witnesses say people frantically attempted to flee the scene. SWAT members also helped to evacuate residents from buildings within a certain radius of the shooting.
Christopher Covelli, a spokesperson for the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, says that the gunman gained access to the rooftop by using a ladder that descended into an alley at the side of the building.
Covelli says the attack was "intentional" with the gunman's victims being "random".
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek has revealed that the six people who died as a result of the attack were all adults. Five of them died at the scene, with one later succumbing to their injuries at a hospital.
A further 23 other people were transported by the Highland Park Fire Department to nearby hospitals, with other victims being transported by police and members of the public.
Dr. Brigham Temple, the medical director of the NorthShore University Health System, says that a total of 26 patients were received at Highland Park Hospital - with a handful of them being children. They were aged between eight and 85 years old.
Per CNN, 19 of the 25 gunshot victims have been treated and discharged.
The FBI has since revealed that Robert E. Crimo III was taken into custody by police on Monday evening.
Authorities say that Crimo was spotted by North Chicago officer who attempted a traffic stop. After being named a "person of interest" an intense manhunt ensued across the Chicagoland area.
The FBI later revealed that authorities were looking for Crimo, adding: "He is being sought for his alleged involvement in the shooting of multiple individuals at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois."
Kim Nerheim, a spokesperson for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, says that officials after now working to trace the firearm's origins and learn who originally purchased it.
Per BBC News, city mayor Nancy Rotering said in a statement: "On a day that we came together to celebrate community and freedom, we're instead mourning the tragic loss of life."
Speaking to BBC News, witness Noel Hara said he was having breakfast in Starbucks at the time of the shooting, adding: "About 30 people suddenly came rushing in screaming and we were locked into the Starbucks bathroom.
"Moments later, they evacuated us from the Starbucks because they thought the shooter was trying to get in the back door."
Another witness said he was about 100 meters away from the shooter, and described the weapon as "the type of gun where it releases a lot of bullets in a very short amount of time. Incredibly loud."
Speaking about gun crime in the suburban area of Highland Park, they added: "I felt so safe here and this is very surreal. We're hiding in a shelter now keeping safe, there's people crying. It's not a good feeling, at all."
According to the Gun Violence Archive, Monday's incident in Highland Park is the 308th mass shooting in the US this year.
Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by this tragedy.
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