The death toll has risen to seven after deadly shooting during a holiday parade in the United States. One person died a day after the attack as a result of his injuries, the media reported on Tuesday, based on local police. A gunman opened fire in the suburb of Chicago on Monday, US National Day. The alleged perpetrator was caught a few hours after the crime.
As police announced Tuesday, the man apparently fired about 70 shots indiscriminately into the crowd from a rooftop with what was initially believed to be a legally obtained handgun (see video above). More than 30 people were injured. Investigators in the United States continue to puzzle over the perpetrator’s motive after the bloody crime. Several music videos posted on the internet with scenes of gun violence are attributed to the suspect.
Shots mistaken for fireworks
Numerous residents gathered in the center of Highland Park, a city of 30,000, on the morning of July 4, when Independence Day is celebrated nationwide. They wanted to celebrate together. But shortly after the parade started, the first shots were fired. Eyewitnesses later reported in American media that they initially thought the sound was fireworks. “Words fail to describe this kind of monster lurking and shooting at a crowd of families with children,” Governor Jay Robert Pritzker wrote on Twitter.
About two dozen injured have been taken to hospitals, police said. A doctor at a hospital said it was treating patients aged eight to 85 with gunshot wounds, including several children. An eyewitness told CNN that he saw several injured and lifeless people lying on the ground. “It was heartbreaking.” People fled the parade.
According to media reports, the suspected gunman could be identified from the weapon. Investigators found DNA traces on the weapon that the suspect had left at the scene, the American broadcaster NBC News reported.
Disguised as a woman for camouflage
Investigators say the suspected gunman had been preparing for his bloody deed for weeks. The 21-year-old allegedly obtained the shotgun legally and disguised himself as a woman to hide his identity and make it easier to flee, a police spokesman said Tuesday.
Several social media accounts believed to be linked to the suspect have since been blocked. Home-made videos of the alleged shooter can be seen in archived versions. A video uploaded under a pseudonym about a year ago shows a strip showing scenes from shooting. At one point, a gunman lies on the ground in a pool of blood, surrounded by police officers with guns drawn.
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.
