Several Chicago-area communities are canceling their fireworks displays and other Fourth of July festivities because of the mass shooting in Highland Park.
Multiple people died and dozens were hospitalized when a shooter opened fire on the Highland Park Fourth of July parade Monday morning. Authorities are still searching for the shooter.
Fireworks displays in Deerfield, Evanston, Northbrook, Skokie, Glenview, Lake Bluff, and Winnetka were canceled.
The City of Evanston also canceled its Fourth of July Parade, which Gov. J.B. Pritzker was scheduled to attend. Evanston released an additional statement announcing the closure of its public beaches for the remainder of the day.
Chris Covelli with the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force said several factors likely came into play with each community’s decision to pull planned events.
“Number one: You have a tragic, mass act of violence today at a community event, and the offender still has not been apprehended … Could this happen again? We don’t know what his intentions are,” Covelli said. “On the other hand, I think there’s a lot of communities that are not looking forward to celebrating after something like this happens right in their backyard.”
The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) and Chicago Police Department released a joint statement and said there are no known threats to Chicago at this time.
Authorities with OEMC and CPD said they would maintain a “situational awareness” of activity and events taking place across Chicago.
Related
Related
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!