Currents News Staff
In Highland Park, Illinois, a community is grieving after enduring the unthinkable. Two-year-old Aiden McCarthy is now an orphan following the July 4th parade shooting that killed seven people – including his parents Irina and Kevin.
“I don’t know how they’re going to tell him,” said Adrienne Rosenblatt, a neighbor of the victims.
Senator Tammy Duckworth says Good Samaritans found baby Aiden underneath his father who died at the scene.
“I pulled up,” said Greg Ring, a Highland Park Parade-goer, “and I said ‘This is not our kid. It’s not his blood. He’s ok. What should we do?’ And the cop said, ‘We can’t be babysitters now. Can you take care of him?’ We said, ‘of course.’”
The suspect “Robert Crimo III” made his first court appearance Wednesday and now faces seven counts of first-degree murder.
The victims ranged in age from their 30s to their 80s. Dozens more were injured in the attack.
“There are many other charges that we are reviewing with respect to the other individuals who have sadly been injured by this,” said Eric Rinehart, Lake County State’s Attorney. “Frankly, who were present on the scene, they were shot at. That may also constitute an attempt murder charge.”
Local authorities say the suspect – who is now being held without bond –opened fire from a rooftop as the parade got underway.
More than 70 high-velocity rounds were fired with a rifle – similar to an AR-15 – according to a spokesperson with the Lake County Major Crime Task Force.
Authorities also say the suspect contemplated carrying out another attack in Madison, Wisconsin – with another weapon in his car but ultimately did not go through with that attack.