At a June 19 celebration — a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of the enslaved — in the suburb of Willowbrook near Chicago, Illinois, one person was killed and at least 20 injured, according to authorities.
Police arrived at the scene around 12:30 p.m. Sunday after hearing multiple gunshots in the area and found “a large gathering of people” in a parking lot, said DuPage County Deputy Sheriff Eric Swanson.
[Un tiroteo masivo cerca de un festival de música en el estado de Washington deja al menos dos muertos]
The injured were taken to local hospitals and two are in critical condition, he said. Swanson did not say whether there were one or more attackers, the motive for the shooting, or whether anyone was arrested in connection with the incident. The identity of the victims was not disclosed.
Police are investigating the crime scene in Willowbrook, Illinois.Matt Marton/AP
“We have admitted 12 patients, seven of whom have been treated and discharged and five patients are still hospitalized, four in stable condition and one in regular condition,” the Good Samaritan Hospital confirmed in a statement.
Witnesses cited by local broadcaster CBS reported that between 20 and 30 shots were fired at more than 200 youth and teens gathered in the parking lot.
“As we were walking, we heard gunshots behind us and fell to the ground,” said Markeshia Avery, a witness quoted by local Chicago broadcaster NBC News.
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Craig Lottie, another witness, said that “suddenly gunfire rang out, everyone ran, chaos ensued.”
The incident is still under investigation and Swanson urged the public to contact authorities.
The Illinois attack came just hours after a shooting at an electronic music festival in Washington state left at least two people dead and three wounded.
As of June 16, 310 mass shootings had been reported in the United States, according to the count by The Gun Violence Archive, which tracks these incidents around the country and defines a mass shooting as an event in which at least four people are injured, including towards the attacker.