Multiple People Shot During 4th Of July Parade In Chicago Suburb

A Chicago suburb canceled what was left of its 4th of July celebration after gunfire erupted during a parade in the affluent neighborhood of Highland Park, according to NBC5 Chicago.

The Chicago Sun Times reports that multiple people were shot.

A Sun-Times reporter saw blankets placed over three bloodied bodies. Other people, running, were visibly bloodied. Police told people: “Everybody disburse, please. It is not safe to be here.”

Cops are still going to the scene pic.twitter.com/gL3Gjhil7V

— eNreeKaii (@Ri_Kayyy) July 4, 2022

“STAY OUT OF THE AREA – allow law-enforcement and first responders to do their work,” posted the sheriff on social media, while Illinois state police called the situation “active.”

More via the Sun Times:

Several witnesses said they heard multiple shots fired. One witness said he counted more than 20 shots.

Miles Zaremski, a Highland Park resident, told the Sun-Times: “I heard 20 to 25 shots, which were in rapid succession. So it couldn’t have been just a handgun or a shotgun.”

Zaremski said that after the shots at Central Avenue around Second Avenue in downtown Highland Park, he saw “people in that area that got shot,” including “a woman covered with blood . . . She did not survive.”

…

Police were patrolling the area with rifles, apparently looking for whoever fired the shots.

Adrienne Drell, a former Sun-Times reporter, said she was sitting on a curb along Central Avenue watching the parade when she saw members of the Highland Park High School marching band start to run.

“Go to Sunset,” Drell said she heard the students shout, directing people to nearby Sunset Food.

A man picked her up off the curb and urged her to get out, Drell said.

“The Illinois State Police is currently assisting Highland Park PD with an active shoot situation that occurred at the Highland Park Parade,” tweeted the police. “The public is advised to avoid the area of Central Ave and 2nd St. in Highland Park.”

Shotting in highland park 4th of July parade. pic.twitter.com/oCfhzfKRZj

— Hugo Aguilar (@Hugo_Aguilar6) July 4, 2022

The city of Highland Park also cautioned people to avoid the area, writing on Facebook: “Fourth Fest has been canceled. Please avoid downtown Highland Park. More information will be shared as it becomes available.”