A Klezmer band was playing a 'joyous' Jewish wedding song when gunfire erupted at Highland Park parade, tuba player says. "It was surreal."

Parade-goers should have been dancing as the band played a joyful Jewish wedding song. The band didn't know why they were running.

Six people were killed and at least 24 were injured when gunfire erupted just around the corner from the band.

The tuba player in the band said it was "surreal". "You see those disaster movies on TV and in theaters where people are running away from something and here we are going towards it, not knowing what happened."

One of the scariest videos to emerge from the July 4 shooting was a parade-goer fleeing the scene as the band continued to play.

—Lynn Sweet (@lynnsweet) July 4, 2022

At the beginning of the parade, Prager said he could see people on the sidewalks, standing and sitting in chairs, and looking happy.

He thought he heard some pops but didn't think it was gunfire. When he saw people running, he thought there was a July 4 contest. The pianist said something wasn't right.

The seven band members realized they needed to turn their truck around and go to safety.

The revival of traditional eastern European Jewish music is taking place in Chicago. It is still very joyful even though it is often in minor keys.

He said that the wedding song they were playing was a joyful and upbeat one.

He said that it was strange to be playing and then to see it happen. Parents are with their babies. Kids, people of all ages, and they were all running.

He said he was numb and sad for the people who were killed, injured and affected by the shooting. I'm okay and that we're fine, that's what I'm thankful for.

There are a lot of Jews in Highland Park. The band plays at parades in Highland Park and Skokie because they have so many fans there.

July 4 is a holiday where everyone can celebrate the birth of the nation, liberty and justice for all. He said, "To think that someone was sick enough to use this as an occasion to unleash violence and mayhem and murder is not right."

"Make Someone's Day: becoming a Memorable Leader in Work and Life" was written by the author. The only thing I can think of is that I need to work harder to get this message out.

He said that this is the worst he has ever seen. We need to stop this. No one deserves to live in fear.