By MICHAEL TARM, KATHLEEN FOODY and ROGER SCHNEIDER
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (AP) — The gunman who attacked an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago fired greater than 70 rounds with an AR-15-style gun that killed at the least six folks, then evaded preliminary seize by dressing as a lady and mixing into the fleeing crowd, police mentioned Tuesday.
Lake County Major Crime Task Force spokesman Christopher Covelli advised a information convention that the suspected shooter, who was arrested late Monday, used a high-powered rifle “much like an AR-15″ to spray bullets from atop a business constructing right into a crowd that had gathered for a parade in Highland Park, a close-knit group on the shores of Lake Michigan that has lengthy drawn the wealthy and typically well-known. More than 30 folks have been additionally wounded.
Investigators who’ve interrogated the suspect and reviewed his social media posts haven’t decided a motive for the assault, Covelli mentioned.
They have additionally not discovered any indication that the shooter focused anybody by race, faith or different protected standing.
Authorities haven’t filed prison costs.
Earlier within the day, FBI brokers peeked into trash cans and underneath picnic blankets as they looked for extra proof on the web site the place the assailant opened hearth.
The photographs have been initially mistaken for fireworks earlier than lots of of panicked revelers fled in terror in Highland Park, a close-knit group on the shores of Lake Michigan that has lengthy drawn the wealthy and typically well-known.
A day later, child strollers, garden chairs and different gadgets left behind by panicked parade goers remained inside a large police perimeter. Outside the police tape, some residents drove as much as acquire blankets and chairs they deserted.
The July 4 taking pictures was simply the newest to shatter the rituals of American life. Schools, church buildings, grocery shops and now group parades have all turn out to be killing grounds in current months. This time, the bloodshed got here because the nation tried to search out trigger to have fun its founding and the bonds that also maintain it collectively.
“It definitely hits a lot harder when it’s not only your hometown but it’s also right in front of you,” resident Ron Tuazon mentioned as he and a buddy returned to the parade route Monday night to retrieve chairs, blankets and a baby’s bike that he and his household deserted when the taking pictures started.
“It’s commonplace now,” Tuazon mentioned. “We don’t blink anymore. Until laws change, it’s going to be more of the same.”
The taking pictures occurred at a spot on the parade route the place many residents had staked out prime viewing factors early within the day for the annual celebration.
Among them was Nicolas Toledo, who was visiting his household in Illinois from Mexico. He was shot and died on the scene, his granddaughter, Xochil Toledo, advised the Chicago Sun-Times. Also killed was Jacki Sundheim, a lifelong congregant and “beloved” employees member at close by North Shore Congregation Israel, which introduced her demise on its web site.
Dozens of fired bullets despatched lots of of parade-goers — some visibly bloodied — fleeing. They left a path of deserted gadgets that confirmed on a regular basis life abruptly, violently disrupted: a field of chocolate cookies spilled onto the grass; a baby’s Chicago Cubs cap; child strollers, some bearing American flags.
“There’s no safe place,” mentioned Highland Park resident Barbara Harte, 73, who had stayed away from the parade fearing a mass taking pictures, however later ventured from her residence.
Highland Park Police Chief Lou Jogmen mentioned a police officer pulled over Robert E. Crimo III about 5 miles (8 kilometers) north of the taking pictures scene, a number of hours after police launched the person’s picture and warned that he was possible armed and harmful.
Authorities initially mentioned Crimo, whose father as soon as ran for mayor of Highland Park, was 22, however an FBI bulletin and Crimo’s social media mentioned he was 21.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek mentioned the 5 folks killed on the parade have been adults, however didn’t have data on the sixth.
Police haven’t launched particulars in regards to the victims, however Toledo’s granddaughter advised the Sun-Times that Toledo had spent most of his life in Morelos, Mexico. Xochil Toledo mentioned she remembers wanting over at her grandfather, who was in his late 70s, as a band handed them.
“He was so happy,” she mentioned. “Happy to be living in the moment.”
Xochil Toledo mentioned her father tried to protect her grandfather and was shot within the arm; her boyfriend additionally was shot within the again and brought by somebody to close by hospital as a result of they weren’t positive there could be sufficient ambulances for all of the victims.
Roberto Velasco, Mexico’s director for North American affairs, mentioned on Twitter that two Mexicans have been additionally wounded.
Sundheim had spent many years on the employees at North Shore Congregation Israel, early on educating on the congregation’s preschool and later serving as Events and B’nei Mitzvah Coordinator, “all of this with tireless dedication,” the congregation mentioned in its assertion saying her demise.
“Jacki’s work, kindness and warmth touched us all,” the assertion mentioned.
NorthShore University Health Center acquired 26 sufferers after the assault. All however one had gunshot wounds, mentioned Dr. Brigham Temple, medical director of emergency preparedness. Their ages ranged from 8 to 85, and Temple estimated that 4 or 5 have been youngsters.
Since the beginning of the yr, there have been 15 shootings the place 4 or extra folks have been killed, together with the Highland Park one, based on The Associated Press/USA TODAY/Northeastern University mass killing database.
Highland Park Police Commander Chris O’Neill mentioned the gunman apparently fired from a rooftop the place he was “very difficult to see.” He mentioned the rifle was recovered on the scene. Police additionally discovered a ladder hooked up to the constructing.
Covelli mentioned Crimo legally bought the gun in Illinois inside the previous yr.
Crimo, who goes by the title Bobby, was an aspiring rapper with the stage title Awake the Rapper, posting on social media dozens movies and songs, some ominous and violent.
In one animated video since taken down by YouTube, Crimo raps about armies “walking in darkness” as a drawing seems of a person pointing a rifle, a physique on the bottom and one other determine with palms up within the distance.
Crimo’s father, Bob, a longtime deli proprietor, ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Highland Park in 2019, calling himself “a person for the people.”
The group of about 30,000 on Chicago’s north shore has mansions and sprawling lakeside estates and was as soon as residence to NBA legend Michael Jordan.
Gina Troiani and her 5-year-old son have been lined up together with his daycare class able to stroll onto the parade route when she heard a loud sound that she believed was fireworks — till she heard folks yell a couple of shooter.
“We just start running in the opposite direction,” she advised The Associated Press. “There were people that got separated from their families, looking for them. Others just dropped their wagons, grabbed their kids and started running.”
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Foody contributed from Chicago. Associated Press writers Martha Irvine and Mike Householder in Highland Park; Mike Balsamo and Bernard Condon in New York; David Koenig in Dallas; Jeff Martin in Woodstock, Georgia; Fabiola Sánchez in Monterrey, Mexico; and Jim Mustian in New Orleans contributed reporting.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”