Sniper announced action online: "I just have to do it"

Created: 07/05/2022Updated: 07/05/2022 07:41

By: Nail Akkoyun

A man kills at least six people at a US National Day parade in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois.

+++ 7.30 a.m .:

Hours after the attack, the police announced the identity of the shooter and published a mug shot.

He was first officially designated a "person of interest," a sort of precursor to a suspect.

The arrested man describes himself as a musician and presents himself online with the artist name of a rapper.

According to US media, he had published violent content on online platforms in the past.

Among them, according to the

, was a video with drawings of a gunman and people being shot, and a voice saying, "I just have to do it" and "Nothing can stop me, not even myself."

Sniper kills six people at US National Day parade – 22-year-old arrested

+++ 6:25 a.m .:

Eyewitness Don Johnson told AFP that he heard screams and saw people running with children in their arms.

"We ran into the gas station and stayed there for three hours," Johnson said.

"I've seen scenes like this over and over again on TV and in other cities, and I didn't think it would ever happen here."

US President Joe Biden was "shocked by the senseless gun violence".

He thanked the emergency services and said he was praying for the injured.

Six dead after shooting at US National Day parade – suspect arrested

Update from Tuesday, July 5, 3:40 a.m .:

After the deadly gun attack at a US National Day parade near Chicago, the suspect was arrested.

The 22-year-old was arrested "without incident" after a brief car chase, Highland Park City Police Chief Lou Jogmen said on Monday.

The police had previously searched for the suspect Robert Crimo under high pressure and with hundreds of heavily armed forces.

At least six people were killed in the attack during Independence Day celebrations on July 4 in Highland Park, Illinois, north of Chicago.

Around 25 other people were injured by bullets.

The shooter opened fire on a crowd attending a holiday parade from the roof of a shop, police said.

Empty chairs and an American flag blanket lie on the ground after a gunman opened fire at a National Day parade in the United States.

© Nam Y. Huh/dpa

Shots at the US National Day parade: several people dead – perpetrators on the run

+++ 9:50 p.m .:

It is now known that the previously unknown shooter killed at least six people in the US National Day parade in a suburb of Chicago.

A police spokesman said 24 people were taken to hospitals after the crime in Highland Park, Illinois.

The shooter was initially not caught.

A weapon was found at the crime scene.

The suspect is described as a white male between the ages of 18 and 20.

A spokesman for the Lake County Sheriff's Office said it appears the gunman fired from a rooftop.

Mayor Nancy Rotering urged people to avoid downtown.

The administration of the small town with around 30,000 inhabitants said: "Numerous police officers are on duty and have cordoned off downtown Highland Park." The background to the crime was initially unknown.

Shots at the US National Day parade: Apparently several dead

Update from Monday, July 4th, 7:50 p.m .:

A shooter opened fire at a parade on the occasion of the national holiday in the USA in a suburb of Chicago.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said he had received reports that nine people were injured or killed by gunfire.

Congressman Brad Schneider, who wanted to take part in Monday's parade, wrote on Twitter: "I have heard that there have been deaths and injuries." An eyewitness named Miles Zaremski told

that he saw several people injured and lifeless who were lying on the ground.

"It was heartbreaking."

A police officer in downtown Highland Park after being shot multiple times during a holiday parade.

© Brian Cassella/dpa/AP

Zaremski said he heard around 30 pops.

People fled the parade.

"It was just chaotic." Lake County Sheriff's Office Nancy Rotering tweeted, "Stay out of the area -- let the police and first responders do their job."

It was not immediately known who fired the shots at the parade in Highland Park.

The mayor of Highland Park urged people to stay away from downtown.

The July 4th festival has been cancelled.

The United States celebrated its Independence Day on Monday.

Shots fired at US National Day parade: at least one person killed

First Report:

Highland Park - Multiple shots were fired during a US Independence Day parade in Highland Park, a northern Chicago suburb.

This is reported by several US media unanimously.

At least one person was killed.

According to the Chicago Tribune newspaper, the Illinois state police are currently on duty.

At the time of the crime, around 10 a.m. (local time), hundreds of people are said to have been at the parade.

The visitors left the event in panic, according to a report by the Chicago Sun Times.

Official information about the perpetrators and other background information is not yet available.

The US has long struggled with massive levels of gun violence.

At the end of May, an 18-year-old gunman massacred a Texas elementary school.

He killed 19 children and two teachers in the small town of Uvalde at the end of May before he was shot dead by the police.

The bloody deed had rekindled the discussion about stricter gun laws in the USA.

(nak/dpa)