In a speech Monday evening hours after a mass shooting killed six people, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker addressed the Highland Park community, saying “there are no words” to describe the loss and grief the families of those killed and injured feel this holiday. after a gunman opened fire during a July 4th parade.
“The families of six individuals woke up today to join a community celebration of our nation’s Independence. They will go to bed tonight less than whole,” he said.
“There are no words for the kind of evil that shows up at a public celebration of freedom, hides on a roof and shoots innocent people with an assault rifle. There are no words I can offer to lessen the pain of those families who will no longer associate the 4th of July with the celebration, but instead with grief,” Pritzker added.
The governor said he had spoken to President Biden, who has pledged federal support. He also said the state of Illinois will make resources available to those who were affected by the shooting. Law enforcement are currently still searching for the suspect, and have identified a person of interest.
“It is devastating that a celebration of America was ripped apart by our uniquely American plague,” Pritzker said. “A day dedicated to freedom has put into stark relief the one freedom we, as a nation, refused to uphold. The freedom of our fellow citizens to live without the daily fear of gun violence.”
