Tuesday morning news - July 5, 2022

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kent Covington. 

Families grieving after mass shooting at July 4th parade » Families are grieving in the Chicago area this morning after a gunman on a rooftop opened fire on a July 4th parade killing at least six people. At least 30 others were wounded.

Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering...

ROTERING: On a day that we came together to celebrate community and freedom, we’re instead mourning the loss, the tragic loss of life, and struggling with the terror that was brought upon us.

Part of the parade route is now a crime scene littered with abandoned strollers, lawn chairs, and American flags.

One parade-goer described the chaotic scene.

AUDIO: I saw someone on the ground with his leg in the air and the girl like crying next to him, and then on the ground to my left, my mom and I saw like at least three more people on the ground - bloody.

As of early this morning, police were looking for a person of interest, 22-year-old Robert E. Crimo III.

Investigators: Danish mall shooter; likely not terrorism » Meantime, in Copenhagen, Danish police say a gunman who killed three people in a crowded shopping mall on Sunday acted alone and apparently selected his victims at random.

The 22-year-old unnamed suspect is in custody. Investigators say the man has known mental health issues, and they do not believe the attack was related to terrorism.

The Danish man is being charged with murder and attempted murder. He’s currently locked up in a secure mental health facility.

UN migration study deems US-Mexico border 'deadliest' » The U.S.-Mexico border is the deadliest land crossing for migrants in the world—and it’s more dangerous now than ever. That, according to new data from the United Nations. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher reports.

JOSH SCHUMACHER, REPORTER: The International Organization for Migration says about 1,200 people died while immigrating across the Americas in 2021—More than 700 of them near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Nearly 500 more have died already this year.

And the author of the report said the actual numbers are likely even higher due to the challenges of collecting the data.

Human smuggling incidents last month in Texas claimed the lives of about 60 people.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher

Putin declares victory in Luhansk » Vladimir Putin on Monday declared victory in the Luhansk province in eastern Ukraine. That one day after Ukrainian troops pulled out of their last remaining stronghold in the province.

The Russian army has also intensified its shelling of the eastern Ukrainian strongholds of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.

Authorities in Sloviansk say Russian shelling killed six people, including a 9-year-old girl, while wounding 19 others.

Akron mayor declares state of emergency amid police shooting protests » PROTEST: We want justice! When do we want it? Now!

The mayor of Akron, Ohio has declared a state of emergency amid protests over a police shooting of an unarmed black man.

Demonstrators took to the streets after the city released video footage of the incident involving 25-year-old Jayland Walker.

HORRIGAN: The video you are about to watch is heartbreaking and it’s very tough take in.

That’s how Mayor Daniel Horrigan introduced the video.

It started as a routine traffic stop on June 27th. But then it appeared that someone fired a gunshot from the car.

Footage then showed a person wearing a ski mask exiting the car and running away. Police gave chase and authorities say they opened fire when they believed he was about to fire on them.

AUDIO: [Gunfire]

Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett …

MYLETT: Each officer independent of each other related that they felt that Mr. Walker had turned and was motioning and moving into a firing position.

But Walker family attorney Bobby DiCello countered …

DICELLO: The law requires to use force that is reasonable. Ya know, we’ve heard numbers high as 95 shells on the ground.

Officers later found Walker to be unarmed. However, in the car, they did find a gun and a loaded magazine. They also found a casing in the area where officers believed a shot had been fired from the vehicle.

The eight officers involved are on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation.

US: Israeli fire likely unintentionally killed reporter » Israeli soldiers may have accidentally killed an Al Jazeera reporter. That, according to State Department spokesman Ned Price on Monday.

He cited an independent examination of the bullet that killed Shireen Abu Akleh.

She died after being caught in a firefight between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz says no one knows for sure who fired the fatal round. But he said it’s important to note…

GANTZ: That hundreds of bullets were fired at IDF troops, which responded with firepower of their own, only in the direction of the sources of the shooting.

U.S. officials said the bullet likely came from an Israeli position, but there’s no reason to believe Israeli troops targeted the reporter.

I’m Kent Covington. For more news, features, and analysis, visit us at wng.org. 

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