5 People Reported Dead, 16 Wounded in Shooting at Fourth of July Parade in Illinois

Over 20 people were shot Monday morning during a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, a suburb located about 25 miles north of downtown Chicago. 

Chicago Sun-Times journalist Lynn Sweet, whose tweets are embedded below, was present and reports via authorities that five people were killed and 16 were wounded.

Local man Miles Zaremski told the newspaper, “I heard 20 to 25 shots, which were in rapid succession. So it couldn’t have been just a handgun or a shotgun.”

NBC Chicago reports gunfire erupted just after 10 a.m. CT, with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office noting the shooting took place “in the area of the Independence Day parade route.”

Illinois State Police announced on Twitter just before 11:30 a.m. CT that the situation was still “active.”

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

Shortly after that, the city’s Facebook page shared, “Shelter in place. Highland Park Police are responding to an incident in downtown Highland Park. All 4th of July events have been canceled. Please avoid downtown Highland Park. Take shelter if in downtown HP. More information will be shared as it becomes available.

This is story is being updated.