US officials have indicated that at least six people were killed and 24 others wounded following a mass shooting at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Chicago earlier today.

Reports indicate that around 10:14 a.m., a lone gunman opened fire on parade-goers from a rooftop using a high-powered rifle that was recovered at the scene; The shooter however remains at large.

Following the shooting, over 100 law enforcement officers were dispatched to the scene to quell the chaos.

Meanwhile, Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli outlined at a news conference that the shooting though random was intentional.

In a statement, Chicago Mayor Nancy Rotering conveyed condolences and also highlighted that the shooting was an act of violence that shook the moral fabric of the state.

“This morning at 10:14, our community was terrorized by an act of violence that has shaken us to our core. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims at this devastating time. On a day that we came together to celebrate community and freedom, we are instead mourning the tragic loss of life and struggling with the terror that was brought upon us,” the statement outlined.

An investigation has been launched by Chicago detectives to ascertain the motive for the senseless shooting.