The man accused of opening fire on a 4th of July parade near the city of Chicago in the United States has been charged with seven counts of murder.
On Wednesday, Illinois State Attorney Eric Rinehart said that the suspected gunman, Robert E Crimo III, faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole if he is convicted.
Reinhart said the first-degree murder charges would be followed by dozens of more charges and that he would ask that Crimo remain held in custody without bail at the suspect’s first court appearance.
Officials said he fired more than 70 rounds at random into the crowd watching Monday’s parade and that he was dressed in women’s clothes to help conceal his identity and blend in with the panic-stricken crowd as he fled.
In addition to the seven victims killed by gunfire, more than three dozen people were treated in hospitals for gunshot wounds and other injuries.
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering said the community of 30,000 was in shock.
“This tragedy should have never arrived at our doorsteps.
"As a small town, everybody knows somebody who was affected by this directly and, of course, we are all still reeling.”
The US Supreme Court last month asserted a constitutional right to carry weapons in public in a ruling that made it easier for pro-gun groups to overturn modern gun regulations.
Quadri Adejumo covers World News, Health, Climate & Humanitarian.
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