According to media reports, the suspected gunman was identified by the weapon at a National Day parade in the United States. DNA traces on the murder weapon led to a 21-year-old who apparently wanted to make a name for himself as a rapper. He published music videos with scenes of violence on the Internet.
Investigators found DNA evidence on the gun the suspect left at the crime scene in Highland Park north of Chicago, Illinois, NBC News reported.
About ten hours after the crime, the young man was arrested in the evening (local time) after a chase at an intersection.
Shot randomly in the crowd
The 21-year-old allegedly fired the shots into the crowd at random from the roof of a building. In addition to the six fatalities, about two dozen injured have been taken to hospitals, according to police. A possible motive for the act was initially unclear. Investigators also found that the suspect was wearing women’s clothing at some point in the day of the crime, NBC reported. When and why exactly remained unclear.
Music videos posted with violent scenes
The suspect is said to have published music videos with scenes of gun violence online. The social media accounts believed to be linked to the man have since been blocked. According to US media, archived versions appear to contain videos of the alleged gunman trying to make a name for himself as a rapper. They were published under a pseudonym.
A video uploaded about a year ago shows a comic strip showing various scenes from shooting. At one point, a gunman lies on the ground in a pool of blood, surrounded by police officers with guns drawn. Another video shows a man with brightly colored hair and several tattoos, including on his face. He can be seen in a room that is supposed to represent a classroom. Towards the end of the video, he poses in front of a blackboard wearing a protective helmet and some sort of combat vest. He is holding up an American flag.
Gun violence in the US is a big problem
The parade started Monday morning at 10:14 a.m. (local time). Moments later, the first shots fell. The US has been battling massive amounts of gun violence for a long time.
In late May, an 18-year-old murdered an elementary school in Texas, killing 19 children and 2 teachers in the small town of Uvalde before being shot and killed by police. Just over a week earlier, an 18-year-old had shot ten people in Buffalo, New York. Investigators assumed a racist motive.
US President Joe Biden said he was “appalled at the senseless gun violence that has brought new grief to an American community on this Independence Day.” His statement said: “I will not give up the fight against the gun violence epidemic.” Biden and his Democrats have long called for tougher gun laws. Far-reaching reforms, however, repeatedly fail due to opposition from Republicans in Congress and the influence of the powerful gun lobby organization NRA.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
