Suspect in custody after 6 killed, dozens wounded in mass taking pictures at Highland Park July 4th parade

HIGHLAND PARK, Sick. (CBS) — The suspected shooter is in custody after six individuals had been killed dozens of others had been wounded when a gunman opened hearth from a rooftop throughout the July 4th parade in north suburban Highland Park on Monday.

Highland Park Police Chief Lou Jogmen mentioned 22-year-old Robert “Bobby” E. Crimo III was arrested round 6:30 p.m., greater than eight hours after the taking pictures, following a chase within the north suburbs.

Jogmen mentioned police in North Chicago noticed Crimo’s car close to Buckley Street and U.S. Route 41, and tried to conduct a visitors cease, however Crimo fled the scene. North Chicago police known as for reinforcements, and Crimo’s car was stopped about six miles away close to Westleigh Street and U.S. 41. He was taken into custody with out incident, and costs had been pending Monday night as police proceed to analyze.

Highland Park Police Cmdr. Chris O’Neill mentioned the taking pictures occurred round 10:15 a.m. throughout the parade in Highland Park. Authorities mentioned the gunman opened hearth from a close-by rooftop utilizing a high-powered rifle.

Police wouldn’t say what particular info led them to determine Crimo because the suspect.

Jogmen mentioned police are following up on a number of suggestions concerning the taking pictures, and requested anybody with info to name 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Authorities earlier surrounded Crimo’s household residence in Highwood, simply north of Highland Park, as they looked for him.

Neighbors mentioned Crimo dwell at that residence along with his father and uncle.

FBI brokers have been going out and in of the home all through the night.

Lake County Main Crimes Process Drive spokesman Chris Covelli mentioned, to date, there isn’t a motive to consider there was multiple shooter.

Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek mentioned 5 individuals died on the scene, all of them adults. One different particular person died at a neighborhood hospital, though Banek couldn’t present additional info on that sufferer.

Highland Park Fireplace Chief Joe Schrage mentioned medics took 10 individuals to NorthShore Highland Park Hospital, 6 individuals to Northwestern Medication Lake Forest Hospital, and seven individuals to NorthShore Evanston Hospital. Another victims walked into native hospitals on their very own. At the very least one of many victims is a baby.

Dr. Brigham Temple, medical director of emergency preparedness for the NorthShore College Well being System, mentioned a complete of 26 sufferers got here into NorthShore Highland Park Hospital, 25 of them with gunshot wounds, together with the ten introduced in by ambulance. Six extra victims got here in to NorthShore Evanston Hospital, and 4 others went to NorthShore Glenbrook Hospital. 

The ages of the victims being handled at NorthShore hospitals ranged from about 8 years previous to 85, together with 4 or 5 kids.

Among the victims had been in vital situation, whereas different victims had minor accidents from the taking pictures.

Two sufferers delivered to Highland Park Hospital had been later transferred to Evanston Hospital, together with one baby. One other affected person from Highland Park Hospital was later transferred to NorthShore Skokie Hospital, and one other baby was later transferred to Comer Kids’s Hospital.

Covelli confirmed witness stories that the shooter opened hearth from the roof of a close-by enterprise. The shooter was ready to make use of a ladder hooked up to the constructing to achieve the roof.

“By all means, at this level, this seems to be fully random,” Coveilli mentioned.

Covelli mentioned it appeared the shooter focused each spectators and folks marching within the parade.

“We do not know what his intentions are at this level. So, definitely, we’re undecided of that,” he mentioned. 

CBS 2’s Tim McNicholas spoke to the household of Nicolas Toledo, who mentioned he was one of many individuals who was shot and killed.

“We’re all feeling fairly numb. We’re all fairly damaged inside,” his granddaughter mentioned.

One witness, Shawn Cotreau, mentioned the shooter was solely 10 ft from the place taking pictures occurred. He mentioned the gunshots went on for a number of minutes. 

Covelli mentioned the gunman stopped taking pictures as law enforcement officials had been approaching the constructing from which he had opened hearth. He mentioned it was not instantly clear how the shooter managed to flee earlier than police obtained to that rooftop.

“All indications is he was discreet, and he was very tough to see,” Covelli mentioned.

A whole bunch of officers are conducting a seek for the shooter, with SWAT groups going door to door. He mentioned there isn’t a indication the gunman has barricaded himself someplace, or that he’s holding any hostages, opposite to some rumors which have circulated for the reason that taking pictures, in keeping with Covelli.

Police and ambulances from a number of jurisdictions swarmed the world, with a number of officers carrying rifles. Video from the scene confirmed individuals being positioned into ambulances. 

Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering mentioned the FBI and Illinois State Police are helping native regulation enforcement businesses with the investigation. She additionally urged individuals to contact their family members to verify they’re protected.

“Our group was terrorized by an act of violence that has shaken us to our core. Our hearts exit to the households of the victims throughout this devastating time. On a day that we got here collectively to have fun group and freedom, we’re as a substitute mourning the loss, the tragic lack of life, and battling the fear that was introduced upon us,” she mentioned.

Rotering additionally thanked the FBI, Illinois State Police, and different native regulation enforcement businesses for his or her help with the investigation of and response to the taking pictures.

“This can be a terribly tough day, and the bloodiest that we have skilled in Highland Park,” Rotering mentioned. “Our group, like so many earlier than us, is devastated. It is not possible to think about the ache of this type of tragedy till you are confronted with it.”

Gov. JB Pritzker mentioned Illinois State Police are helping within the seek for the gunman.

“This assassin will likely be delivered to justice,” he mentioned.

“There are not any phrases for the form of evil that reveals up at a public celebration of freedom, hides on a roof, and shoots harmless individuals with an assault rifle,” he added. “It’s devastating {that a} celebration of America was ripped aside by our uniquely American plague. A day devoted to freedom has put into stark aid the one freedom we as a nation refuse to uphold, the liberty of our fellow residents to dwell with out the every day worry of gun violence.” 

Covelli urged anybody who might need photos or video from the parade or the taking pictures to contact police to help with the investigation. He additionally requested close by enterprise house owners to share any surveillance video they could have from close to the scene of the taking pictures. 

Digital media, together with video and pictures could also be submitted to: https://www.fbi.gov/highlandpark. Suggestions might be offered by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.

“That would assist investigators. They could see one thing in there that could be helpful, and permit them to proceed additional with the investigation,” he mentioned. “Even in case you do not see something in there, we’d like to find a way to try that, so we are able to additional our investigation.”

A number of kids took shelter within the basement of a close-by enterprise after the taking pictures.

CBS 2 Digital Producer Elyssa Kaufman was close to the scene when she heard what seemed like gunfire. She and her household obtained on the bottom and shortly ran to their automotive in a close-by parking storage. 

“Everybody was was operating, hiding and screaming,” she mentioned. “It was extraordinarily terrifying. It was very scary. We’re very lucky, we obtained out in a short time.”

Video posted on TikTok confirmed the Highland Park Excessive Faculty band operating after photographs had been fired.

Maya Spector was getting ready to march on the parade together with her daughter.  “We actually ran residence,” she mentioned. “Folks had been operating and simply attempting to get out of the world.”

“My daughter was panicked and traumatized.”

Some witnesses reported as much as 20 photographs. 

Highland Park’s Mayor Nancy Rotering mentioned the remainder of the July 4 pageant has been canceled. 

Neighboring Deerfield additionally canceled its occasions “as a result of a taking pictures in Highland Park.” Evanston has additionally canceled its parade. 
   

Witnesses posted comparable accounts of sounds just like gunfire and folks operating. 

One other witness took pictures of chairs left behind after individuals fled. 

Illinois State Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) mentioned she was on the parade together with her household, and had simply embellished the automotive she was using in for the parade, once they heard the gunfire.

“We heard, I heard pops. Actually, I initially thought it was fireworks. It by no means occurred to me that in downtown Highland Park, on the 4th of July, there can be gunshots, however abruptly, a pair ladies began operating again in direction of us, after which it was nearly like a wave of individuals, and so they had been crying, and screaming. They mentioned there’s an energetic shooter, and folks have been shot. All of us simply form of froze in our tracks. It was onerous to even consider,” she mentioned.

In a press release, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot mentioned, “The tragedy unfolding in Highland Park is devastating.”

“I’ve been involved with Mayor Rotering and have provided our help, and the Chicago Police Division is offering help. We grieve with the households of the deceased and injured in addition to your entire Highland Park group. Legislation enforcement is working onerous to convey the shooter into custody. If anybody has info, we encourage them to name 911 and report what you understand,” she added.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth mentioned she and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin will proceed to work to move commonsense gun legal guidelines to stop these sorts of shootings sooner or later, saying the nation must ban assault rifled and high-capacity magazines.

“We should do extra,” she mentioned.