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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3:47 p.m. ET, July 5, 2022
Police identify a person of interest in Highland Park parade shooting
From CNN’s Joe Sutton
(City of Highland Park)
Highland Park Police Chief Lou Jogmen said they have identified a person of interest, Robert E. Crimo III, who is being sought for his alleged involvement in the mass shooting at this morning’s July 4th parade.
Crimo has not been named as a suspect, and CNN is seeking further information on why police have named him a person of interest.
Crimo is believed to be driving a 2010 silver Honda Fit with Illinois license plate DM80653.
Numerous law enforcement agencies are working to apprehend him.
He is considered armed and dangerous, officials said.
This post has been updated with the latest information.
6:36 p.m. ET, July 4, 2022
Members of Highland Park High School band and football team are safe, school district’s superintendent says
From CNN’s Joe Sutton
All members of the Highland Park High School band and football team — which were each involved this morning’s July 4th parade — are safe, according to a statement from the school district’s superintendent.
“We are told that all the members of our Highland Park High School Band and our Band Director performing at today’s event are safe. Members of the Highland Park High School Football Team who were marching in the parade are also safe. At this time, we do not have any information about students or staff who may have been at the event as attendees,” superintendent Bruce Law said.
Highland Park High School will have counselors available for students and staff members tomorrow, the statement noted.
“It goes without saying that yet another incident of gun violence has caused irreparable harm and hurt…” Law said. “Please, do not hesitate to reach out if you or someone in your family needs to talk.”
6:19 p.m. ET, July 4, 2022
Injured victims ranged in age from 8 to 85, doctor says
From CNN’s Chuck Johnston
A total of 26 patients were received at Highland Park Hospital, according to Dr. Brigham Temple, medical director of NorthShore University Health System.
Here's what he said about the patients:
Ten of those individuals came by ambulance, according to Temple.
Temple said 25 of those individuals did sustain gunshot wound injuries.
Temple says that 19 of the 25 gunshot victims were treated and have been discharged home.
Two patients were transported to Evanston Hospital, Temple said.
The patients ranged in age from 8 years old to 85 years old, according to Temple.
Four or five of the patients were children, according to Temple.
6:19 p.m. ET, July 4, 2022
Catch up: Here's what to know so far about the deadly 4th of July parade shooting in Highland Park
From CNN staff
A woman wipes tears after a shooting at the Highland Park Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, on July 4. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)
At least six people were killed and two dozen were injured in a shooting at a 4th of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois. It marks at least the 308th mass shooting in the US this year, according to data compiled by the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit tracking such incidents.
Highland Park Police is leading the investigation and the Lake County Major Crime Task Force is working directly with the FBI, said Chris Covelli, spokesperson for the task force, in a news conference. The suspect is still at large and considered to be armed and dangerous.
Here's what we know so far as the manhunt continues:
Where it happened: Highland Park, Illinois, is located about 25 miles north of downtown Chicago. Police say the shooting started about 20 minutes from the start of the parade.
The suspected shooter: Cmdr. Chris O’Neil, incident commander, said on Monday that the suspect is a White male between 18-20 years old, has longer black hair, a small build and is wearing a white or blue t-shirt. The suspect has not been identified. Police say they combed through social media to try to identify threats on the parade, but said the suspect was "discreet."
The shooting: Sgt. Christopher Covelli, from the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, said police have recovered a "high-powered rifle" on the rooftop of a business. Police say they believe the shooter was on the rooftop when he opened fire. Covelli said the suspect likely accessed the roof from a ladder in an alley. Officials have not disclosed where the building is specifically. A firearm that was recovered in Highland Park after the shooting is being urgently traced to figure out who purchased the weapon and where it came from, according to Kim Nerheim, spokesperson with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The victims: Five of the people that were killed during the shooting died at the scene, Jennifer Banek, the Lake County coroner, said. All of those people were adults, she said. Another person died after they were transported to a local hospital, she added. Covelli said that it appeared that spectators and parade participants were targeted. Dr. Brigham Temple, of the NorthShore University Health System, said 26 people in total were brought to the hospital and 25 had gunshot injuries. At least 19 people were treated and discharged home. The victims age ranged from 8 to 85 years old, Temple added.
Witnesses: Several people who attended the parade told CNN they thought the gunshots were fireworks at first. Zoe Pawelczak said when she realized something was wrong, she grabbed her dad and started running. Others described the scene as chaotic as people ran away and took shelter.
Authorities are asking that anyone with photos or videos from the parade when the shooting started to contact Highland Park police at 847 432-7720.
CNN'S Eric Levenson, Adrienne Broaddus, Shawn Nottingham and Brynn Gingras contributed reporting to this post.
6:18 p.m. ET, July 4, 2022
At least one child transported to hospital who was "critically injured," Highland Park Fire chief says
From CNN’s Joe Sutton
Authorities were asked if any children were transported to the hospital from the scene of the parade shooting and the city fire chief said at least one child was transported.
“At least one of those was a child,” Highland Park Fire Chief Joe Schrage said.
Schrage went on to say, “They were critically injured.”
When asked for clarification on who he was referencing was critically injured, Schrage said “just the child.”
The chief did not have information on the age range.
Some of the victims injured had gunshot wounds and varied from the abdomen to limbs, Schrage went on to say.
6:18 p.m. ET, July 4, 2022
Shelter in place order remains for Highland Park parade route and central business district, authorities say
From CNN’s Joe Sutton
An armed law enforcement officer patrols the scene of the Fourth of July parade shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, on July 4. (Youngrae Kim/AFP/Getty Images)
City authorities held a second news conference Monday afternoon to give an update on the mass shooting that left at least six people dead during a July 4th parade in Highland Park, Illinois.
The parade's route, downtown Highland Park and the city's central business districts remain an active crime scene, Highland Park Police Commander Chris O’Neill said. Authorities are recommending that people living in that area continue to shelter in place.
"Currently we have an active crime scene in our central business district. The perimeter is Green Bay road to Laurel avenue to St. Johns Avenue to Elm Place. And we have police personnel in that area continuing the investigation and clearing businesses and buildings," O'Neill said.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek said there are five adults dead at the scene of the shooting. Those individuals have been identified and officials are working to notify their families.
Banek went on to say another deceased victim was taken to a hospital.
Highland Park Fire Chief Joe Schrage shared information those injured in the shooting, saying that nearly two dozen people were transported to area hospitals by first responders:
10 to Highland Park Hospital
6 to Lake Forest Hospital
7 to Evanston Hospital
Lake County Major Crime Task Force spokesman Chief Chris Covelli added there were also self-transports to area hospitals, and that the total number of people hospitalized may be higher than is currently understood.
4:49 p.m. ET, July 4, 2022
Chicago White Sox will host tonight's game but scheduled fireworks canceled following shooting
From CNN's David Close
Major League Baseball's Chicago White Sox announced the team will host the Minnesota Twins as scheduled Monday night -- but a pre-planned fireworks celebration has been canceled.
A moment of silence will also be observed for those impacted by Monday's shooting outside of Chicago in Highland Park, Illinois.
"Our hearts are with the Highland Park community. The entire Chicago White Sox organization expresses our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the innocent victims of today's horrific shooting and all of those who have been affected by this tragedy. After consulting with Major League Baseball, tonight's scheduled game against Minnesota will take place at 7:10 p.m. However, the postgame fireworks celebration is canceled. A moment of silence will be held before the start of tonight’s game."
6:18 p.m. ET, July 4, 2022
Suspect used a ladder in an alley to access roof of business, police say
Sgt. Chris Covelli speaks at the scene of the Fourth of July parade shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, on July 4. (Youngrae Kim/AFP/Getty Images)
Sgt. Chris Covelli, of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, said police believe the shooting suspect got onto the roof of a business by using a ladder in an alley.
"It looks like access to the roof via a ladder in an alley was unsecure," he said, adding that the ladder was attached to the building.
Police said previously that they recovered a rifle on the roof of a building where they believe the shooter was, but have not disclosed the exact location.
Covelli said law enforcement is working to determine if the suspect is still within the perimeter they are investigating. He said officers are using drones and other technology to try to locate the suspect.
6:18 p.m. ET, July 4, 2022
5 people dead at the scene were adults, coroner says
A police officer reacts as he walks in downtown Highland Park, Chicago, on July 4. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)
Jennifer Banek, the Lake County coroner, said six people were killed in a shooting at a parade in Highland Park, Illinois. Of those, five of them were dead on the scene and one died at the hospital, according to Banek.
She said all five who died on the site of the parade were adults. She did not have information on the age of the sixth victim.
"There was one that was transported to a local hospital that also died at the hospital. I don't have any additional information on that victim," she said.
