HIGHLAND Park shooting suspect Robert 'Bobby' E Crimo III bought a gun legally before allegedly killing six during a July 4 Parade.
Crimo was taken into custody on Monday evening as a suspect in the Fourth of July parade mass shooting.
Law enforcement sources confirmed that six people were killed and 30 others were hospitalized.
The parade in Highland Park, Illinois — about 25 miles north of Chicago — descended into chaos 10 minutes into its start after a gunman opened fire on parade-goers.
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering confirmed on Tuesday morning that the suspect legally bought a gun before the shooting.
Read our Highland Park shooting blog for the latest news and updates…
- Jennifer Korn
'A preventable epidemic'
Duke men's basketball head coach Jon Scheyer posted about the shooting on Twitter, writing:
"Heartbroken."
"My heart is with the people of Highland Park, IL—a town just minutes from where I grew up."
- Jennifer Korn
'Today I am shattered'
Actor Ken Olin shared on Twitter that he grew up in Highland Park, writing:
"I’ve always wished that every child in the world could have a childhood as idyllic as mine was growing up in Highland Park, Il," he wrote.
"I was so incredibly fortunate."
"And today I’m shattered because even in Highland Park children aren’t safe from America’s gun disease."
- Jennifer Korn
Bernie Sanders: 'Congress must do more NOW'
Senator Bernie Sanders issued a tweet in response to the Highland Park shooting.
"Grocery stores. Schools. Churches. 4th of July parades. Places everyone should feel safe," he wrote.
"Congress must do more NOW to protect our people."
- Jennifer Korn
'I grew up in Highland Park'
Songwriter Richard Marx posted a tweet about the Highland Park shooting, which hit home.
"I grew up in Highland Park," he wrote.
"I’m actively reaching out to check on the welfare of people I still know there."
"My heart is always broken by these constant mass shootings no matter where they occur but today I’m extra heartbroken."
"And extra angry at the senselessness."
- Jennifer Korn
Shooting took place in a wealthy suburb
The median home in the area is valued at $535,000.
In addition, more than 75 percent of people 25 and over have a college degree, according to US Census data.
- Jennifer Korn
'People were hiding'
Warren Fried, who attended the parade with his wife and seven-year-old twins, said he watched the police and ambulance pass by him at the parade and afterward heard an array of gunshots.
He said people began yelling "shooter" and "run," and he and his family fled toward their car for safety.
"People were hiding, kids were on the streets looking for their parents, just in a state of shock," Fried told CNN.
- Jennifer Korn
'It looked like a battle zone'
Pawelczek and her father hid behind a dumpster for about an hour until police moved them into a sporting goods store and then eventually escorted them back to their car, she said.
She saw one person who had been shot in the ear and had blood all over his face and another girl who was shot in the leg.
"It looked like a battle zone, and it's disgusting. It's really disgusting," she said.
- Jennifer Korn
'Something's wrong'
Witness Zoe Pawelczek told CNN parade-goers initially thought the array of pops were fireworks given the occasion.
"And I was like, something's wrong. I grabbed my dad and started running. All of a sudden, everyone behind us started running," she said.
"I looked back probably 20 feet away from me. I saw a girl shot and killed.
"I saw her die. I've never seen anything like this."
- Jennifer Korn
Suspect posted disturbing videos
Crimo posted videos on a YouTube channel that has since been terminated due to violating community guidelines.
Several of these videos contained music created by Crimo, along with disturbing videos to accompany the tracks.
- Jennifer Korn
Witness shares account
Bradley Hansen shared his account on Twitter. of the shooting at Highland Park.
"We were there. Right there," he wrote.
"We live in Highland Park, IL and today we were in the middle of a murderous attack."
"I had to pull my infant child to safety as people were dead and dying around us."
"I got separated from my wife when she carried my 6 yo to safety," he concluded.
- Jennifer Korn
The brief pursuit
The capture comes after the alleged gunman was spotted around 6.30 pm local time when officers tried to stop him – but he sped away, prompting a brief pursuit before he came to a stop.
He was taken into custody “without incident" and charges are pending as police continue to investigate.
- Jennifer Korn
Crimo's capture
The FBI's "person of interest" in the latest deadly holiday shooting could be seen with his face on the ground, wearing dark clothing as a K9 dog was held nearby.
Minutes earlier, passersby captured the dramatic moment Crimo stood with his hands up, surrounded by a swarm of police cars after terrified residents were urged to steer clear of the area.
- Jennifer Korn
White Sox's statement
"Out hearts are with the Highland Park community," the team said.
"The entire Chicago White Sox organization expresses our deepest sympathies to their families and friend of the innocent victims of today's horrific shooting and all of those who have been affected by this tragedy.
"After consulting with Major League Baseball, tonight's scheduled game against Minnesota will take place at 7:10pm. However, the postgame fireworks celebration is canceled."
The team went on to add that there would be a moment of silence before the start of the game.
- Jennifer Korn
White Sox's firework show was canceled
In honor of the Fourth of July, the White Sox organization was set to hold a fireworks show after their game against the Minnesota Twins was over but announced just hours before the first pitch that it was canceled.
In a statement, the team said that they decided to cancel the event after consulting with Major League Baseball about the Highland Park shooting that has taken the lives of at least six people.
- Jennifer Korn
Vice President Kamala Harris' statement
"Doug and I are praying for the dozens of people who have been hospitalized and those who were lost today in Highland Park, Illinois," Vice President Kamala Harris wrote.
"This shooting is an unmistakable reminder that more should be done to address gun violence in our country."
- Jennifer Korn
President Joe Biden's statement
"Jill and I are shocked by the senseless gun violence that has yet again brought grief to an American community this Independence Day," President Biden wrote.
"As always, we are grateful for the first responders and law enforcement on the scene."
"I will not give up fighting the epidemic of gun violence."
- Jennifer Korn
US Rep Brad Schneider's statement
"Today a shooter struck in Highland Park during the Independence Day parade," US Rep Brad Schneider tweeted.
"Hearing of loss of life and others injured. My condolences to the family and loved ones; my prayers for the injured and for my community; and my commitment to do everything I can to make our children, our towns, our nation safer. Enough is enough!"
- Jennifer Korn
Little boy reunited with family
A little boy was found alone and covered in blood during the parade, however, he has since been reunited with his grandparents.
A local chef found the boy and kept him safe as it was unclear at first if he had attended the parade with his parents or grandparents.
Photos shared on social media showed the boy’s ankles and shoes covered in what appeared to be blood stains, however, it was unclear whether it was his blood or someone else’s.
- Jennifer Korn
'My mom was walking on the parade route'
Dr. Nirav Pandya, Associate Professor of UCSF Orthopedic Surgery, tweeted that his mother was walking on the parade route just 20 minutes before the shooting.
"She is luckily safe but another senseless act of gun violence.," he wrote.
"This can impact any of us at any moment."
- Jennifer Korn
Other mass shootings this weekend, part four
Four people were injured in a mass shooting in Tacoma, Washington around 9pm on Sunday. None of the injuries were said to be life-threatening.
Authorities responded to another mass shooting at 11.51pm on Sunday in Manassas, Virginia, where four men were injured.
Six people were injured at around 9.30pm on Saturday in Clinton, North Carolina. The victims ranged from 61 to 12 years old.
Two people died and four people were injured around 6.45pm on Saturday night in Haltom City, Texas.
And in Queens, New York, one person died and three others were injured after a shooter entered a mechanic shop and opened fire around 9.40pm.
- Jennifer Korn
Other mass shootings this weekend, part three
Another mass shooting happened around the same time in Chicago, Illinois.
Five people were injured in a shooting at about 12.13am on Monday, police reported.
Authorities in Mullins, South Carolina, got a call about a gunshot victim around 2am on Sunday.
Besides that victim, three other men with gunshot injuries were reported at the MUSC Marion Emergency Department.
- Jennifer Korn
Other mass shootings this weekend, continued
Also on Monday around 3.39am, police responded to a mass shooting in Richmond, Virginia.
Six people were shot, including four men and two women.
Two people sustained life-threatening injuries and all of them are in the hospital.
- Jennifer Korn
Other mass shootings this weekend
Four people were injured in Kansas City, Missouri after a mass shooting outside a concert early Monday.
Another mass shooting occurred in Sacramento, California around 2am on Monday at a nightclub.
Police said one person was killed and four others were injured.
- Jennifer Korn
Eleventh mass shooting this 4th of July weekend
The Highland Park incident is the 11th mass shooting this Fourth of July weekend, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Christopher Covelli of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the shooting was “very random, very intentional” while calling it “a very sad day.”
- Jennifer Korn
Motive may have been random
The suspect's motive appears to be random, according to investigators.
"By all means, at this point, this appears to be completely random," said Lake County Major Crimes Task Force spokesman Chris Covelli.
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