During the 4th of July celebration parade in Highland Park, Illinois, a gunman opened fire, killing at least 7 people and injuring 40. The shooter, now identified as 21-year-old Robert Crimo, dressed in women’s clothing to hide his identity. He fired at the attendees from the rooftop of a building. Authorities have charged Crimo with seven counts of first degree murder.
Among the victims were Irina (35) and Kevin McCarthy (37), who were attending the parade with their two-year-old son, Aiden. A passer-by at the scene found the child alive under his father’s body.
“He kept asking if mom and dad are going to come back soon.” Lauren Silva, who rescued the boy along with her boyfriend, told The Daily Beast.
Irina’s friends have set up a GoFundMe page for Aiden, and so far it has raised over $1 million. “In the aftermath of the Highland Park, IL shootings on July 4, the North Shore community rallied to help a boy who we knew nothing about. We took him to safety under tragic circumstances, came together to locate his grandparents, and prayed for the safety of his family,” the page reads. “At two years old, Aiden is left in the unthinkable position; to grow up without his parents.”
New York Post reported that aside from the McCarthys, 88-year-old Stephen Strauss, 78-year-old Nicolas Toledo, 63-year-old Jacki Sundheim, and 64-year-old Katherine Goldstein were also idenfitied as victims of the shooting.
The tragedy has left the people of Illinois, as well as the world in a state of shock and anger. It comes at a time of heated discussions surrounding the need for stricter gun laws in the USA. In June, the US Congress passed the most significant gun control bill in almost 30 years. The bill will impose stricter background checks on people younger than 21 seeking to buy guns. It will also push states to take away guns from those who may cause a threat to safety. The Congress passed the bill in the aftermath of shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas.
