On July 4, Highland Park became the latest community riven by gun violence in the United States as what were supposed to be family-friendly Independence Day celebrations turned into a bloodbath.
Locals, families and friends gathered to enjoy a July 4 parade in Illinois when a gunman opened fire on crowds from a sniper position on the roof of a nearby store.
Six people were killed in the attack, while 38 others were taken to hospitals, several of them with gunshot wounds.
Of the six victims, five adults died at the scene.
The sixth died of his injuries in a local hospital. It is not currently clear whether this victim was an adult or a child.
As of Tuesday morning, eight surviving victims remained in hospital with their circumstances currently unknown.
The first details began to emerge about the victims killed in the massacre. Here’s what we know so far about the victims:
Nicholas Toledo
The family of Grandpa Nicholas Toledo, 76, confirmed his death Monday afternoon.
The elderly man, who holds dual American and Mexican citizenship, used a wheelchair and was sitting in it watching the show when he was shot.
Toledo’s granddaughter Zochel Toledo revealed that her grandfather didn’t want to go to the show but did so to be with his family.
She said New York Post That about a dozen of their families were on their way to the festivities, but that morning, he said he wanted to stay home because he was using a walker.
“He would say, ‘No, I think I should stay, I’m on a walk, there will be a lot of people, I don’t think I should go,'” she said.
“My father and [aunt]they were like, ‘How do we leave you here by yourself? We’ll never do that to you no matter if you’re in a wheelchair or walking, we still take you with us’, and then the tragedy happened.
She added that the 76-year-old girl was injured three times in a hail of bullets and died at the scene.
Ms Toledo said the family was “in shock”.
“We’re so upset, I’m shocked. It’s just a dream, a scary dream,” she said.
Nicholas Toledo was killed in a mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois
(Toledo family)
Jackie Sondheim
The second victim was identified Monday night as a devoted member of a local synagogue.
The North Shore congregation in Israel remembered Jackie Sondheim as a ‘lifelong’ devotee and a ‘dear’ employee whose work, kindness and warmth we have all touched.
Ms Sondheim’s death was confirmed in an email the synagogue sent to worshipers on Monday night, and later on social media as relatives shared posts commemorating a woman described as “one of the most wonderful” women they have ever met.
“Jackie has been a lifelong NSCI chaplain and a treasured member of the NSCI team for decades,” Temple said.
Her nephew Luke Sundheim wrote on social media how he learned of her death in a phone call, “I hope none of you ever receive her.”
“If you know me then you know 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. Today while my family was enjoying the Winnetka 4th of July parade, I got a phone call that I hope none of you will ever receive,” he wrote on Facebook.
“My Aunt Jackie was murdered relentlessly watching a procession she had lived in her whole life only two towns to the north.
“If you knew Jackie, you would know that she was one of the most kind people I have ever met and that she did everything she could to help anyone.
“The world has lost a really special person and I’m incredibly angry and sad that I won’t be able to spend more time with her. I love America, but that can’t happen to innocent, loving people.”
She is survived by her husband Bruce and daughter Leah.
North Shore congregation in Israel remembered Jackie Sondheim as ‘lifelong’ devotees
(NSCI)
