6 dead, dozens wounded in shooting at Highland Park July 4 parade; Robert

Multiple loud sounds at Highland Park July 4th parade. Panic and crowds running. @cbschicago I am in a car in leaving a parking garage.

— Elyssa Kaufman (@ElyssaKaufman) July 4, 2022

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (CBS) — Six people were killed dozens of others were wounded when a gunman opened fire from a rooftop during the July 4th parade in north suburban Highland Park on Monday.

Highland Park Police Cmdr. Chris O’Neill said the shooting happened around 10:15 a.m. during the parade. 

Police are still searching for the shooter, and are urging people in the area to shelter in place within an area bounded by Green Bay Road, Laurel Avenue, St. Johns Avenue, and Elm Place. 

Highland Park Police Chief Lou Jogmen identified a “person of interest” as 22-year-old Robert “Bobby” E. Crimo III. He is believed to be driving a silver 2010 Honda Fit, with Illinois license plate DM80653.

A high-powered rifle was recovered at the scene.  

“We are aggressively looking for the individual who was responsible for this shooting,” said Lake County Major Crimes Task Force spokesman Chris Covelli.

Covelli said, so far, there is no reason to believe there was more than one shooter.

O’Neill said the shooter appears to be a white man, 18 to 20 years old, with long black hair, a small build, and was wearing a white or blue T-shirt.

Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek said five people died at the scene, all of them adults. One other person died at a local hospital, although Banek could not provide further information on that victim.

Highland Park Fire Chief Joe Schrage said medics took 10 people to NorthShore Highland Park Hospital, 6 people to Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, and 7 people to NorthShore Evanston Hospital. Some other victims walked into local hospitals on their own. At least one of the victims is a child.

Dr. Brigham Temple, medical director of emergency preparedness for the NorthShore University Health System, said a total of 26 patients came into NorthShore Highland Park Hospital, 25 of them with gunshot wounds, including the 10 brought in by ambulance. Six more victims came in to NorthShore Evanston Hospital, and four others went to NorthShore Glenbrook Hospital. 

The ages of the victims being treated at NorthShore hospitals ranged from about 8 years old to 85, including four or five children.

Some of the victims were in critical condition, while other victims had minor injuries from the shooting.

Two patients brought to Highland Park Hospital were later transferred to Evanston Hospital, including one child. Another patient from Highland Park Hospital was later transferred to NorthShore Skokie Hospital, and another child was later transferred to Comer Children’s Hospital.

Covelli confirmed witness reports that the shooter opened fire from the roof of a nearby business. The shooter was able to use a ladder attached to the building to reach the roof.

“By all means, at this point, this appears to be completely random,” Coveilli said.

#BREAKING Incident commander Chris O’Neil says people are to shelter in place at this time. The suspect is still at large. He’s described as a white male between 18-20yo, longer black hair, in a white or blue t-shirt. pic.twitter.com/wDucBT0w3o

— Shardaa Gray (@ShardaaGrayTV) July 4, 2022

Covelli said it appeared the shooter targeted both spectators and people marching in the parade.

“We don’t know what his intentions are at this point. So, certainly, we’re not sure of that,” he said. 

CBS 2’s Tim McNicholas spoke to the family of Nicolas Toledo, who said he was one of the people who was shot and killed.

“We are all feeling pretty numb. We’re all pretty broken inside,” his granddaughter said.

The family of Nicolas Toledo tells me he was one of the people shot and killed at the Highland Park 4th of July Parade. “We are all feeling pretty numb. We’re all pretty broken inside,” his granddaughter said. She shared these photos with @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/rDtiq5ijrL

— Tim McNicholas (@TimMcNicholas) July 4, 2022

One witness, Shawn Cotreau, said the shooter was only 10 feet from where shooting happened. He said the gunshots went on for several minutes. 

Covelli said the gunman stopped shooting as police officers were approaching the building from which he had opened fire. He said it was not immediately clear how the shooter managed to escape before police got to that rooftop.

“All indications is he was discreet, and he was very difficult to see,” Covelli said.

Hundreds of officers are conducting a search for the shooter, with SWAT teams going door to door. He said there is no indication the gunman has barricaded himself somewhere, or that he is holding any hostages, contrary to some rumors that have circulated since the shooting, according to Covelli.

Police and ambulances from several jurisdictions swarmed the area, with several officers carrying rifles. Video from the scene showed people being placed into ambulances. 

Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering said the FBI and Illinois State Police are assisting local law enforcement agencies with the investigation. She also urged people to contact their loved ones to make sure they’re safe.

“Our community was terrorized by an act of violence that has shaken us to our core. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims during this devastating time. On a day that we came together to celebrate community and freedom, we’re instead mourning the loss, the tragic loss of life, and struggling with the terror that was brought upon us,” she said.

Covelli urged anyone who might have pictures or video from the parade or the shooting to contact police to assist with the investigation. He also asked nearby business owners to share any surveillance video they might have from near the scene of the shooting. 

Digital media, including video and photographs may be submitted to: https://www.fbi.gov/highlandpark. Tips can be provided by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.

“That could help investigators. They may see something in there that may be useful, and allow them to proceed further with the investigation,” he said. “Even if you don’t see anything in there, we would love to be able to take a look at that, so we can further our investigation.”

Several children took shelter in the basement of a nearby business after the shooting.

Children sheltering in place in the basement of a Highland Park business

They colour in their red white and blue while their parents wait to find out if there’s a gunman on the loose outside. @cbschicago https://t.co/NC7aWOHSnJ pic.twitter.com/iB7cFANgdK

— Marissa Parra (@MarParNews) July 4, 2022

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CBS 2 Digital Producer Elyssa Kaufman was near the scene when she heard what sounded like gunfire. She and her family got on the ground and quickly ran to their car in a nearby parking garage. 

“Everyone was was running, hiding and screaming,” she said. “It was extremely terrifying. It was very scary. We are very fortunate, we got out very quickly.”

Video posted on TikTok showed the Highland Park High School band running after shots were fired.

Maya Spector was preparing to march at the parade with her daughter.  “We literally ran home,” she said. “People were running and just trying to get out of the area.”

“My daughter was panicked and traumatized.”

Some witnesses reported up to 20 shots. 

Highland Park’s Mayor Nancy Rotering said the rest of the July 4 festival has been canceled. 

Highland Park Police are responding to an incident in downtown Highland Park. Fourth Fest has been canceled. Please avoid downtown Highland Park. More information will be shared as it becomes available.

— Nancy Rotering (@NancyRotering) July 4, 2022

Neighboring Deerfield also canceled its events “due to a shooting in Highland Park.” Evanston has also canceled its parade. 
   

We just abandoned the Highland Park parade. Shots fired?

— Mr. Dan Kelly (@mrdankelly) July 4, 2022

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Witnesses posted similar accounts of sounds similar to gunfire and people running. 

Another witness took photos of chairs left behind after people fled. 

Responders still arriving amidst backdrop of abandoned parade route in Highland Park Il. No information about nature of incident which apparently took place in/near Central business district pic.twitter.com/K8nY3Byjp5

— Sonny Cohen 🇺🇸 (@SonnyCohen) July 4, 2022

Illinois State Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) said she was at the parade with her family, and had just decorated the car she was riding in for the parade, when they heard the gunfire.

“We heard, I heard pops. Honestly, I initially thought it was fireworks. It never occurred to me that in downtown Highland Park, on the 4th of July, there would be gunshots, but all of a sudden, a couple women started running back towards us, and then it was almost like a wave of people, and they were crying, and screaming. They said there’s an active shooter, and people have been shot. We all just kind of froze in our tracks. It was hard to even believe,” she said.

In a statement, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said, “The tragedy unfolding in Highland Park is devastating.”

“I have been in contact with Mayor Rotering and have offered our support, and the Chicago Police Department is providing assistance. We grieve with the families of the deceased and injured as well as the entire Highland Park community. Law enforcement is working hard to bring the shooter into custody. If anyone has information, we encourage them to call 911 and report what you know,” she added.

Gov. JB Pritzker issued the following statement about the mass shooting:

“Today, I ask all Illinoisans to pray for the families who have been devastated by the evil unleashed this morning in Highland Park, for those who have lost loved ones and for those who have been injured. I also ask that we all pray for our first responders at all levels of government who are actively working to bring the suspect into custody, and whose bravery undoubtedly saved innocent lives on the scene. 

“There are no words for the kind of monster who lies in wait and fires into a crowd of families with children celebrating a holiday with their community. There are no words for the kind of evil that robs our neighbors of their hopes, their dreams, their futures. There are no words I can offer to lift the pain of those they leave behind. Please know that our state grieves with you, that MK and I grieve with you.

“But grief will not bring the victims back, and prayers alone will not put a stop to the terror of rampant gun violence in our country. 

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“I will stand firm with Illinoisans and Americans: we must – and we will – end this plague of gun violence.”