By Elisha Fieldstadt -
NBC News
A girl who was in the 4th of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, when a man fired into the crowd, killing seven people, said she wakes up with stomach pains and freaks out when she hears the sound of a siren.
Lily Genser, 9, told our sister network MSNBC that when she heard the gunshots during the event, she thought the noise was part of the fireworks or the parade.
Now that she knows the sound was gunshots, she is terrified of loud noises.
"When Kamala Harris was in town, we heard a lot of police sirens and I freaked out and rushed home
," Lily said.
The vice president visited the Chicago suburb on Tuesday after the shooting.
Lily Genser. NBC News
And when the minor found out that the attacker was going to be transferred to the police station near her home, she could not rest.
"That night we slept with our mother and I would wake up with a stomach ache just from worrying," he added.
[A boy was found alone and bloodied after the Chicago shooting. The police searched for his parents but they were already dead]
Seven people were killed and dozens were injured in the shooting.
Robert 'Bobby' E. Crimo III, 21, confessed to the shooting, according to authorities.
He has been charged with seven counts of first degree murder.
Highland Park shooter had a history of threatening to kill his family
July 6, 202202:27
Crimo, a rapper obsessed with number 47, climbed a fire escape and took up residence before opening fire on unsuspecting parade attendees, according to authorities.
He had apparently been planning the attack for weeks and even changed into women's clothing to blend in with the crowd during his escape, police said.