Seven counts of premeditated murder charged with armed attacker near Chicago

The US judiciary announced Tuesday that it has charged the perpetrator of the armed attack that targeted the two participants in an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, near Chicago, seven counts of premeditated murder and may spend the rest of his life in prison.

If found guilty of these charges, 21-year-old Robert Cremo will face life in prison without the possibility of parole, Lake County District Attorney Eric Riabhart said.

"These are only the first of many other charges that will be brought against Karimo," the prosecutor added.

On Monday, Robert Cremo, a resident of Haywood, north of Highland Park, where the shooting took place, was arrested after six people were killed and more than 30 wounded during an Independence Day parade.

Police spokesman Christopher Coveley said no motive for the attack, in which the gunman fired dozens of rounds of semi-automatic rifles from a rooftop, into the crowd, had yet been determined.

He added that Karimo was "wearing women's clothes and investigators believe that he did this to hide tattoos on his face and his identity and to facilitate his escape by submerging among those fleeing the chaos" sparked by the shooting.

He explained that the gunman climbed to the roof of a shop overlooking the parade using life stairs and fired more than 70 rounds from a gun he had legally purchased, leaving seven dead and at least 35 wounded, according to a police toll on Tuesday.

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