Behind the Parapet
Behind the Parapet is a series that began after a mss shooting that occurred in our community.
Parapets have been an architectural detail that I have studied and often photographed since my days in architectural school. Whether a highly ornate street facade parapet or a utilitarian back alley parapet they are not only a functional building element but they can also be an elegant way in which a building meets the sky.
After July 4th, 2022 my observations of parapets changed.
My wife, Christine, and I live in downtown Highland Park Il. On the day of the July 4th, 2022 parade, we were sitting on our porch having coffee as we listened to the marching band. We did not witness the mass shooting but we heard what we assumed were fireworks. The gunfire was followed by sirens and then we watched, confused, as neighbors and strangers ran down our street in terror looking for a safe place to hide. Shortly after, we received a text alert from the local authorities instructing us to stay locked in our house as helicopters hovered overhead for hours searching for the shooter. The gunman hid behind a parapet of a local store and then fired 83 rounds into the crowd, killing 7 people and wounding 48 others.
Ever since the shooting, I find myself scanning rooftops wherever I go for any sign of a gunman hiding behind a parapet.
