July 5, 2022
Chicago – The man charged Tuesday with opening fire at an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago legally bought five weapons, including two high-powered rifles, despite authorities being called to his home twice in 2019 for threats of violence and suicide, police said.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said the suspect, if convicted of the seven first-degree murder charges, would receive a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. He promised that dozens more charges would be sought.
A spokesman for the Lake County Major Crime Task Force said the suspected shooter, who was arrested late Monday, used a rifle “similar to an AR-15″ to spray more than 70 rounds from atop a commercial building into a crowd that had gathered for the parade in Highland Park, an affluent community of about 30,000 on the Lake Michigan shore.
The assault happened less than three years after police went to the suspect’s home following a call from a family member who said he was threatening “to kill everyone” there.
Task force spokesman Christopher Covelli said police confiscated 16 knives, a dagger and a sword, but said there was no sign he had any guns at the time, in September 2019.
Police in April 2019 also responded to a reported suicide attempt by the suspect, Covelli said.The suspect legally purchased the rifle used in the attack in Illinois within the past year, Covelli said.
In all, police said, he purchased five firearms, which were recovered by officers at his father’s home.
Illinois state police, who issue gun owners’ licenses, said the gunman applied for a license in December 2019, when he was 19.
His father sponsored his application.
More Chicago News: A 15-year-old boy was fatally shot while sitting in a park in West Ridge. The shooting occurred in the 6600 block of North Western Avenue.
At about 1:51 p.m. Tuesday, the boy was sitting in a park when an unknown offender approached, produced a firearm and fired shots at the victim.
The boy was shot in the right shoulder and transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
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