Parade-goers to the 4th of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois will forever be changed after a shooter killed 7 and injured dozens. The attacker shot indiscriminately into the crowd using an assault rifle adding to the gun epidemic that is killing Americans daily. One of the victims, 76-year-old Nicolas Toledo, was visiting family from Mexico when he was killed along the parade route north of Chicago.
“We were all in shock,” Xochil Toledo, his granddaughter, told The New York Times about the gunfire. “We thought it was part of the parade.” She added: “We realized our grandfather was hit. We saw blood and everything splattered onto us.”
Nicolas was in a wheelchair and had a number of health issues resulting from a car accident when he was walking in Highland Park during a previous visit to the area to visit family. Due to his medical issues, he had to be accompanied by someone at all times.
The family has set up a GoFundMe to help with the unexpected costs associated with his sudden death.
“As a family we are broken, and numb,” reads the text on GoFundMe. “Our condolences go out to all the other families who lost a love one today. But today Nicolas is our guardian angel. We ask you please keep our family and all the families of this horrible tragic in your prayers and stay strong as a community. I love you abuelito. Descansa en paz.”
Our thoughts are with all of the families impacted, including Nicolas Toledo’s family, by the tragic mass shooting that has become all too familiar.