The suspect behind the Fourth of July parade massacre in a Chicago suburb, that left at least six people dead and dozens more injured, has been arrested.
Police had released an image of 22-year-old suspect Robert E Crimo III, who was described as armed and dangerous and was driving a silver Honda, as a massive manhunt took place.
The annual procession in wealthy Highland Park was stopped just minutes after it started at 10am local time on Monday, with hundreds of attendees running for safety as chaos broke out.
Parade-goers left behind chairs, prams, bicycles and blankets as they fled the event route on Central Street in the city's downtown area.
As well as the six people who have died, at least three dozen were rushed to hospital, said authorities.
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Police stopped him while he was driving his silver 2010 Honda Fit automobile.
He was spotted by an officer and caught after a brief pursuit. He is now in custody where he is being treated as a "person of interest".
Footage shows the moment where Crimo was arrested with his Honda surrounded by a large number of police vehicles on the junction between Highway 41 and Westleigh Avenue.
"He is considered armed and dangerous," sheriff's department spokesperson Christopher Covelli earlier told journalists, as the hunt got underway for Crimo.
Officials said a rifle was recovered from the scene.
More than 36 people were injured, mostly with gunshot wounds, said Jim Anthony, a spokesman for the NorthShore University HealthSystem.
The 26 victims taken to the Highland Park hospital ranged in age from 8 to 85, said Brigham Temple, an emergency room doctor.
At least one of those killed was a Mexican national, a senior Mexican Foreign Ministry official said on Twitter.
Mayor Nancy Rotering told a news conference: "Our community was terrorised by an act of violence that has shaken us to our core. On a day when we came together to celebrate community and freedom, we are instead mourning the tragic loss of life."
Lake County Deputy Chief Covelli said the gunman opened fire from a rooftop. As the manhunt for him continues he told the public: "We're asking everybody to stay indoors. Stay vigilant right now."
Children waving American flags, riding tricycles or enjoying a ride in a wagon pulled by adults froze as people in the crowd screamed when gun shots started, video on social media showed.
Local media reported several witnesses describing the suspect was wearing a yellow backpack.
One witness claimed to have heard more than 20 shots being fired.
They told Chicago's WGN Morning News anchorman Dan Ponce that the shots were coming from on top of a camping outlet store in Central Avenue.
In a tweet, he said: "Witnesses say the shooter was on the roof of Uncle Dan’s and fired into parade.
"5 or 6 shots, then a pause, then 5 or 6 more shots.
"The shooter is still at large and North Shore residents are being asked to stay inside."
Meanwhile the family of Nicolas Toledo said he was one those who died in the horror incident.
His granddaughter told CBS Chicago reporter Tim Nicholas: “We are all feeling pretty numb. We’re all pretty broken inside."
She has also shared photos of her loved one.
Meanwhile, the North Shore Congregation Israel synagogue confirmed one of their "lifelong" congregants and teachers, Jacki Sundheim, was another fatal victim of the rampaging gunman.
They wrote in an email: "Jacki was a lifelong congregant of NSCI and a cherished member of NSCI's staff team for decades.
"Jacki's work, kindness and warmth touched us all."
Ms Sundheim is survived by her husband Bruce and daughter Leah, according to the Times of Israel.
The synagogue added: "There are no words sufficient to express the depth of our grief for Jacki's death."
Officers yesterday were reported to be telling people at the scene: "Everybody disburse, please. It is not safe to be here."
The Lake County Sheriff's office said on Twitter: "STAY OUT OF THE AREA - allow law-enforcement and first
responders to do their work."
It added that deputies were assisting Highland Park police.
A reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times said they saw blankets covering three bloodied bodies and five other people wounded near the parade's reviewing stand.
Police and fire engines have been pictured at the scene and officers are said to be patrolling with rifles.
A heavy presence of emergency responders were already attending the parade prior to the incident.
Witness Larry Bloom told NBC Chicago at first people thought the popping sound was part of the parade.
"You heard like a 'pop, pop, pop,' and I think everybody kinda thought maybe it was a display on one of the floats and then it just opened up," he said.
"I was screaming and people were screaming. They were panicking and and they were just scattering and I, you know, we didn't know. You know, it was right on top of us."
Fellow attendee, Lisa Schulkin, told WGN9: “All of a sudden you just heard the gunshots, multiple and quick in a row, and then masses, masses of people running.
“The streets were just filled with people running, kids crying."
She went on to describe how she hid under a car with several others until about 10.45am, when her husband came to meet her.
Manuel Rangel told USA TODAY he saw dozens of people running past his house.
“They looked scared. They were panicking,” he said. “You never see those things here. It’s a quiet place.”
A video, posted to TikTok, shows people sitting on a grass bank watching a brass band adorned in American flags marching past before people repeat "gunshots" over and over.
A woman is heard shouting "Oh my God!" as the marchers quicken into a jog and spectators begin to clamber to their feet.
The cameraperson, who appears to be a young boy, says in a panicked voice: "Oh my God, it's gun shots! I can't believe I actually recorded that!"
He repeats himself a couple of times before sirens can be heard and he says "Ma!"
Another video filmed after the majority of parade-goers have fled, shows abandoned bicycles and fold-up chairs on the pavement, with fire engines lined up along the street.
Emergency responders in face masks and rubber gloves can be seen running by at one point.
Mayor Rotering confirmed at around 11am local time that the parade was officially cancelled.
She said in a social media post: "Highland Park Police are responding to an incident in downtown Highland Park.
"Fourth Fest has been cancelled.
"People avoid downtown Highland Park. More information will be shared as it becomes available."
The parade was scheduled to finish at 10pm, with performing acts, floats and live music on the agenda.
The villages of Deerfield and Glenview have also canceled their Fourth of July parades in response to the incident.
US Rep. Brad Schneider was among those in attendance at the Highland Park event when shots rang out and he confirmed that he and his team were safe.
