Police release presumed July 4 parade shooter’s identity

Police release presumed July 4 parade shooter’s identity

(Updates with presumed identity of shooter, info on some victims)

Washington, Jul 4 (EFE).- At least six people died and “dozens” were wounded when a gunman opened fire on Monday during the July 4 parade in Highland Park, Illinois, local police said at a press conference.

Local authorities on Monday afternoon identified the suspected gunman who opened fire at the local July 4 parade, killing six people and wounding two dozen others, as 22-year-old Robert Crimo, who is still at large and described as “armed and dangerous.”

The alleged shooter is driving a silver Honda, police said, and fled the scene of the shooting, although it is not yet known whether he is a Highland Park resident or came from elsewhere to stage the massacre.

Local police said that a large number of federal, state and local law enforcement officers are working to capture the suspect, and authorities are still asking parade-goers who took shelter in the vicinity when the gunfire erupted to remain indoors until they can be evacuated by security forces.

Police said that they will release a photo of the suspected shooter soon and called on the public not to approach him if they spot him but rather to immediately call 911.

Police offered no information about the presumed motive for the attack.

The suspect opened fire on the parade crowd from the roof of a nearby building.

Meanwhile, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard confirmed in Mexico City that one Mexican citizen is among the dead in the massacre.

“Mexican Consul Reyna Torres informs me that there is a (Mexican) citizen who is among those who lost their lives in the shooting that took place in Chicago,” Ebrard said on his official Twitter account.

Mexico’s top diplomat added that two people of Mexican origin are among the wounded and expressed condolences to the relatives and friends of the victims.

“We are with the Chicago community in its pain and sadness over this tragedy,” he said.

Local police and other security forces in the city some 40 km (25 miles) from Chicago have recovered a firearm from the scene, according to police.

The shooting occurred about 10 minutes after the 10 am start of the local Independence Day parade, and people gathered along the parade route ran for cover once the gunfire erupted, as shown on videos posted by the daily Chicago Sun-Times.

“Police are responding to an incident in downtown Highland Park,” Highland Park authorities said on Facebook, adding that “Fourth Fest has been canceled.”

Police told parade-goers: “Everybody disperse, please. It is not safe to be here.”

Several government officials, including Illinois Gov. Jay Robert “J.B.” Pritzker and lawmaker Brad Schneider, both Democrats, were attending the event.

Pritzker said on Twitter that he was “closely monitoring” the situation in Highland Park.

On Twitter, Schneider said that he had received information that people had been killed and wounded, although he did not provide further details.