Vicious shootings recur in the U.S. holiday parade, with suspects saying "no one can stop them"

The Paper's reporter Nan Boyi intern Shi Yuan

On July 4, local time, a violent shooting occurred in Highland Park, a suburb of Chicago. At the time of the shooting, mass demonstrations were being held to celebrate American Independence Day. Police said the gunman may have shot at the marching crowd from the roof of a nearby building.

The Associated Press reported on July 5 that the shooting has killed six people and injured more than 30 others. According to the New York Times, local police have now arrested a suspect.

After the incident, US President Joe Biden issued a speech expressing condolences to the victims and condemning the perpetrators' egregious behavior. Since the place where the incident occurred was a settlement of many Jews, and there were many Jews among the victims and injured, the Israeli side also responded to the incident accordingly and actively made docking representations with the United States.

"No more place to stay"

July 4 is America's annual Independence Day. As a national holiday in the United States, grand celebrations are held throughout the United States, and Highland Park is no exception. However, a few gunshots shattered the pleasant atmosphere of the event, and all that remained was panic, screaming, and people running around.

According to the Associated Press, the shooting took place at a location along the mass parade route. Earlier in the day, many residents marked the main viewing points for the annual celebration there. According to local officials, the gunmen fired around 10:15 a.m. on the 4th, when the march was about three-quarterswaysway through. After the gunshots rang out, bullets hit hundreds of marchers, some of whom were visibly injured and bleeding. According to some videos from the scene, the crowd left a cascade of discarded items scattered on the ground during the panicked escape: a bag of half-eaten potato chips; A box of chocolate chip cookies sprinkled on the grass; A child's Chicago Cubs hat. The gunman escaped after committing the crime, and the local police then launched a pursuit and found a high-power rifle and a ladder at the scene.

According to reports, the police judged the gunman to be alone and warned local residents that the gunman was still in great potential danger. Subsequently, several cities near Highland Park also cancelled a series of celebrations, including parades and fireworks.

Some local residents are still palpitating and angry when they talk about the shooting. Ron Tuazon and a friend returned to the parade route that evening, retrieving chairs, blankets and a children's bicycle he and his family abandoned at the start of the shooting, saying the incident happened in front of him and hit harder. Barbara Harte, a 73-year-old local resident, also complained to the media that "there is no safe place anymore." ”

Afterwards, according to local official statistics, the shooting caused a total of 6 deaths and more than 30 injuries. Christopher Covelli, a spokesman for the Lake County Serious Crimes Unit, said at a news conference that several of them died on the spot, one after being taken to the hospital. It is understood that all but one of the others had gunshot wounds, ranging in age from 8 to 85 years, with four to five of the patients being children.

After the incident, Illinois Gov. Pritzker said at a news conference that the shooting had ruined the celebration of America (Independence Day) and was devastating, "I was outraged because it didn't have to be that way." While we only celebrate National Day once a year, mass shootings have become a weekly American tradition. Biden also said on the same day that he and first lady Jill Biden were "appalled by the senseless gun violence that once again brought grief to American society on Independence Day."

Who are the gunmen?

After the shooting, U.S. police have been conducting a large-scale search for the fleeing gunmen. On the day of the 4th, more than a dozen police officers surrounded a residence in Highland Park. Some police officers were armed with rifles and blocked the road leading to the residence.

According to the New York Times, local police arrested a 22-year-old man named Robert Crimo III that night, who believed he was suspected of major crimes and was responsible for the shooting. At present, Kerimo has been taken to the police station for further investigation, and as of 18:05 on the 4th, the police have not yet filed any charges against Kerimo.

During the investigation, police found that Coremo had assumed the pseudonym Bobby and was a rapper. He posted dozens of videos and songs on social media, some of which were ominous and violent. In an animated video taken down by YouTube, a man with a rifle, a body lying on the ground, another standing in the distance with his hands raised, followed by a close-up of a bloodied chest and a gunman raising his hands as another police car arrives.

In another video, Corremo appears in the classroom wearing a black bicycle helmet, describing himself as "like a sleepwalker." I know what I have to do." He added, "Everything led to all of this. Nothing stopped me, even myself. ”

Emerson M. Thompson, Senior Fellow at the Digital Forensic Research Laboratory of the Atlantic Council According to Emerson T. Brooking, "He [Kerimo] was immersed in the culture of the internet on the fringes. But so far no clear political or ideological motives have been found. Brooking believes this sets Corremo apart from previous suspects in the Buffalo, El Paso and Poway shootings, where gunmen have posted racist manifestos online.

Israel has expressed concern about the shooting

The shooting that occurred on the 4th also aroused concern on the Israeli side. According to the Jerusalem Post, at least two of the six victims killed in the shooting were Jewish, and many of the injured were also Jewish.

Located on the shores of Lake Michigan in northern Chicago, Highland Park is a densely populated community of about 30,000 people, according to the Associated Press. There are many mansions and sprawling lakeside homes that have long attracted the rich and some well-known. The Times of Israel also reported that at least one-third of the 30,000 residents here are Jewish, many of whom are Israelis.

After the shooting, Israeli Prime Minister Rapid said, "I was shocked to hear news from Highland Park. There, a day's celebration turned into a day's tragedy. My heart is with the families of the victims and with all the American people. Today, As always, Israel stands with our American friends. ”

Yanam Cohen, Israel's consul general in the Midwest, also said, "I am following the terrible news from Highland Park. Our hearts and prayers are with the members of the community. We thank the local government for its timely response. ”

Responsible Editor: Zhang Wuwei Photo Editor: Hu Mengxi

Proofreader: Liu Wei