At least five people have died and 19 have been taken to hospitals after a shooting at a July 4 parade in a suburb of Chicago, said police, who are still searching for the shooter.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the parade started around 10:00 a.m., but stopped suddenly 10 minutes later when shots were heard.
A Sun-Times reporter saw blankets placed over three bloodied bodies. Several witnesses told the newspaper that they heard gunshots.
Hundreds of attendees, some visibly bloodied, fled the parade.leaving behind chairs, prams and blankets.
“Everyone disperse, please. It’s not safe to be here”, the police asked those present.
Highland Park police said in a statement Monday morning that five people died and 19 were taken to hospitals. At the moment it is not clear if the five dead were counted among the 19 people hospitalized.
Police stressed that authorities are still searching for the suspect.
A video taken by a Sun-Times reporter after the shooting shows a band in a float continuing to play as people run past screaming.
A photo posted on social media appears to show pools of blood near overturned chairs in downtown Highland Park.
