The person suspected of the murders during the 4th of July parade near Chicago is arrested, the motive of the attack is revealed

Police in the US state of Illinois have arrested a young man suspected of carrying out Monday's deadly attack on an Independence Day parade.

A gunman opened fire from the roof of a building on families with children waving flags and riding bicycles in a parade, killing six people and injuring more than 36 others in Chicago's Highland Park.

Fourth of July celebrations in a suburban Chicago neighborhood turned to tragedy Monday when a gunman opened fire on families participating in the parade from the roof of a building.

After a manhunt that lasted several hours, police said they had a suspect in custody after 22-year-old Robert E. Crimo III turned himself in to authorities.

The motive for the attack is not yet clear.

At least six people were shot dead and dozens more were injured, including children.

One parent said he had to take drastic measures to protect his son.

“I put the boy in a bin and he stayed there with his dog while I went back to look for the rest of the family. I left them with someone there and went back to get the phone and find the rest of the family because they left too. It was terrible," says Aleksandri.

The witness Amarani Garcia was in the parade with her little daughter.

“Gjithçka mendova ishte vetëm të mbroja vajzën time dhe vrapova me të. Shkuam në McDonalds-in më të afërt dhe gjatë rrugës ajo humbi këpucën. Vajza ishte e frikësuar. Doja vetëm që ajo të ndihej e sigurt”.

Guvernatori i Illinois J.B. Pritzker e dënoi tragjedinë.

“Jam i zemëruar sepse nuk duhet të ndodh kështu dhe megjithatë ne si komb vazhdojmë ta lejojmë këtë. Ndërsa ne festojmë katër korrikun vetëm një herë në vit, vrasjet masive janë bërë gati të përjavshme”.

Në Uashington, Presidenti Joe Biden mbajti një moment heshtje për viktimat.

“Çdo ditë na bëhet e qartë se nuk ka asgjë të garantuar për demokracinë tonë. Asgjë të garantuar për mënyrën tonë të jetesës. Ne duhet të luftojmë për të, ta mbrojmë atë dhe ta fitojmë duke votuar”, tha presidenti.

Just hours after the Highland Park shooting, officials said two Philadelphia police officers were shot as thousands of people celebrated the Fourth of July with a fireworks display.

The incidents come as gun violence is fresh in the minds of many Americans.

In May, about 20 students were killed at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, just over a week after ten people were shot dead at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York.

President Biden signed into law some restrictions on gun purchases last month, but said Monday that much more needs to be done./VOA