Death toll in Illinois shooting raised to 6; gunman still on the loose

Authorities now say at least six people have been killed in a shooting at a Chicago-area Independence Day parade. Another 24 people were injured, mostly from gunshot wounds, but also from injuries suffered during the chaos as people fled the scene, according to a local NBC affiliate.

Area residents are being told to shelter in place, with the gunman still on loose. A local reporter says the area around where the shooting took place has been secured, though the gunman could still be around.

A police spokesman describe the suspect as a white male between 18 and 20 years old with long black hair and a short stature. He says a weapon was recovered from the scene, without elaborating.

Chairs and blankets are left abandoned after a shooting at a Fourth of July parade on July 4, 2022, in Highland Park, Illinois. (Jim Vondruska/Getty Images/AFP)

At the scene of the initial shooting at the parade, streets and sidewalks are strewn with items left or discarded by fleeing crowds that have been left untouched.