At least six people were killed and 24 injured in a shooting at a Fourth of July Parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, Illinois, in the United States.
The 22-year-old suspect, identified as Robert Crimo, has been arrested. He was being sought for his "alleged involvement" in the shooting, according to the FBI. Highland Park Police Chief Lou Jogmen said that he was taken into custody "without incident".
Five out of the six victims lost their lives at the scene while the sixth succumbed to his injuries after he was taken to the hospital.
The shooting, according to police officials, began at 10:14 am there when the parade was three quarters through.
People who were part of the parade were seen fleeing in panic in a social media video right after shots were fired.
Authorities said that the gunman reportedly fired from a rooftop and that a "high-powered" rifle was retrieved from the scene.
City Police Commander Chris O'Neil told AFP that about two dozen people, including children, were transported to the Highland Park Hospital for gunshot injury treatment.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 309 incidents of mass shootings in the US in 2022. At least three other incidents were reported on 4 July, although no deaths were reported.
'Will Fight Gun Violence Epidemic': Biden
President Joe Biden took to Twitter to express his shock over the incident while saying that he would not give up "fighting the epidemic of gun violence".
"Jill and I are shocked by the senseless gun violence that has yet again brought grief to an American community this Independence Day. 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," he tweeted.
On 25 June, he had signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first significant federal bill on gun control in the country in decades.
He said that while the bill fell short of what's really needed to curtail gun violence and mass shootings in the US, it would "save lives". The law, however, does not ban the sale of assault weapons.
Illinois governor JB Pritzker said that it was devastating that "a celebration of America was ripped part by our uniquely American plague".
'Shooting Scare' in Orlando
Meanwhile, hours after the shooting in Chicago, 12 people were injured while running from a scare, prompted by people throwing firecrackers into a crowd celebrating the Fourth of July at the Lake Ekola Fountain in Orlando.
Some witnesses claimed that they heard gunshots causing park goers to panic and run. Reportedly, some even jumped into the water to seek shelter.
The police, however, said that there was no evidence of a shooting.
(With inputs from AFP)
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