More details have emerged about the victims of Monday's shooting in Highland Park, Illinois. As members of the public gathered along Central Avenue to enjoy the town's Fourth of July celebrations, a gunman opened fire on the crowds - shooting civilians from a nearby rooftop. Christopher Covelli, a spokesperson for the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, says the attack was "intentional" with the gunman's victims being "random". As of this writing, the death toll has now reached seven, with dozens more recovering from their injuries. This is what we know so far about the victims... Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78 As reported by <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/victims-july-4th-highland-park-parade-shooting/story?id=86205738">ABC News</a>, one of the people to have been killed in Monday's shooting has been named as 78-year-old Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza. In a statement to ABC News, Toledo's grandson, David, said: <blockquote>"My grandpa was a funny man. He'd always joke around and be playful with his grandkids. He arrived [at] the U.S. in the '80s and worked around the Highland Park area for many years. He spent his last days swimming and fishing and being among family."</blockquote> <img class="size-large wp-image-1263160716" src="https://img.vt.co/2022/07/Screenshot-2022-07-06-at-16.14.03-1024x434.png" alt="" width="1024" height="434" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: GoFundMe]] Kimberly Rangel, Toledo's granddaughter, told <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/nicolas-toledo-killed-in-highland-park-mass-shooting-was-visiting-family-from-mexico/">CBS News</a> that the family is "broken" right now and encouraged others to "hold your family tight while you can, while you still have them". Toledo's other granddaughter, Xochil Toledo, told the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/05/us/highland-park-nicolas-toledo.html">New York Times</a> that her grandfather didn't want to attend the Highland Park July 4th parade, but his disabilities meant that he had to be around somebody at all times. He was reportedly shot while sitting in his wheelchair. Xochil Toledo said that the family initially thought the gunfire was "part of the parade." The family has set up a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/mario-nicolas-toledo">GoFundMe</a> in order to raise enough money to transport their grandfather's body back to his native Mexico. Irina McCarthy, 35, and Kevin McCarthy, 37 Parents Irina and Kevin McCarthy attended the day's festivities with their two-year-old son, Aiden, who has now been left orphaned. <img class="size-full wp-image-1263160676" src="https://img.vt.co/2022/07/Screenshot-2022-07-06-at-13.11.35.png" alt="" width="702" height="401" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: GoFundMe]] After little Aiden was found alone in the chaos, his photo was shared across social media in the hopes that he could be identified and reunited with his family. A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/irina-and-kevin-mccarthy">GoFundMe</a> set up by Irina Colon states: "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." More than $2 million has been raised for the young boy, who is now in the care of his grandparents. Irina's father, Michael Levberg, <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/7/5/23195969/highland-park-mass-shooting-fourth-july-parade-irina-kevin-mccarthy-aiden-victims" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told the Chicago Sun-Times</a> that Kevin died protecting his son. Both Kevin and Irina were graduates of DePaul University in Chicago, both earning a Bachelor of Science in Finance. Kevin worked with Jaguar Gene Therapy, with CEO Joe Nolan describing him as a "star employee" with an "incredible work ethic", per <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/06/highland-park-victims-kevin-and-irina-mccarthy-leave-behind-toddler-who-must-navigate-life-as-an-orphan.html">CNBC</a>. Jacki Sundheim, 63 <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/07/05/second-highland-park-parade-victim-idd-as-jacki-sundheim/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Post</a> reports that 63-year-old Jacki Sundheim also lost her life on Monday. A devoted member of a local Jewish congregation, officials from the North Shore Congregation Israel (NSCI) said: "It is with immeasurable sadness that we let you know that our beloved Jacki Sundheim was one of the victims murdered today at the Highland Park Parade. "Jacki was a lifelong congregant of NSCI and a cherished member of NSCI’s staff team for decades. Jacki’s work, kindness and warmth touched us all, from her early days teaching at the Gates of Learning Preschool to guiding innumerable among us through life’s moments of joy and sorrow as our Events and B'nei Mitzvah Coordinator -- all of this with tireless dedication." <img class=" wp-image-1263160602" src="https://img.vt.co/2022/07/Screenshot-2022-07-05-at-12.20.22.png" alt="" width="517" height="528" />[[imagecaption|| Jacki Sundheim tragically lost her life on Monday. Credit: North Shore Congregation Israel]] The statement concluded: "There are no words sufficient to express the depth of our grief for Jacki’s death and sympathy for her family and loved ones. "We know you join us in the deepest prayer that Jacki’s soul will be bound up in the shelter of God’s wings and her family will somehow find comfort and consolation amidst this boundless grief." Stephen Straus, 88 <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/highland-park-illinois-fourth-july-shooting-victims">Fox News</a> has named 88-year-old Stephen Straus as another victim of the attack. Speaking to the Chicago Tribune, his family describe him as a "culture vulture" who adored reading and the arts. They added that he attended the Highland Park Fourth of July parade every year. Straus worked as a stockbroker, and still commuted to his office five days a week, per the newspaper. [[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10167328496135643]] "My dad was just very much a Highland Parker," his son, Peter Straus, said. "He lived here, and unfortunately he died here." "I called him yesterday just to wish him a Happy Fourth of July and he didn’t respond, which I didn’t make much of. And then news stories started coming out about a shooting in Highland Park," Peter added. In a Facebook post, Stephen's niece, Cynthia, wrote: "Steve was 88 years old, in remarkably good health, and still went to work every day. He is integral to our family, a kind, sweet and gentle soul with great humor, intelligence, and keen wit. He towered over our family like a protective Oak sheltering his own. "Follow The Sun Steve, to the other side of the veil. Only those who have left this world know what awaits, and for me, I can only say that if there are bells at Heaven's Gate they are chiming and cheering for you, for a life well lived, and a soul well served. But, let's be clear NO ONE should die this way." Staus is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Linda, two sons, and four grandchildren. Katherine Goldstein, 64 Fox News has also named 64-year-old Katherine Goldstein as a victim of the Highland Park tragedy. Per <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/07/06/cassie-goldstein-daughter-of-highland-park-victim-katherine-goldstein-recounts-horrifying-moment/">The New York Post</a>, Katherine's 22-year-old daughter was with her mom at the parade. Cassie Goldstein says her mom was killed as the pair ran side-by-side in terror after the shooting began. After seeing her mom fall to the ground, Cassie told <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/victims-july-4-highland-park-parade-shooting-rcna36636" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC News</a>: "I knew she was dead. I just told her that I loved her, but I couldn’t stop, because he was still shooting everyone next to me." Cassie was able to survive after taking shelter behind a trash can. "She was just a good mom. And I got 22 years with her. And I got to have 22 years with the best mom in the world," Cassie said. The seventh victim that was killed during the Highland Park parade is yet to be identified. Per <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/robert-crimo-charges-highland-park-july-4-b2116617.html">The Independent</a>, 21-year-old Robert E. Crimo III was taken into custody by police on Monday evening shortly after being named as a "person of interest" connected with the shooting. Officials have confirmed that Crimo has been charged with seven counts of first-degree murder - with more charges expected to follow. If found guilty, Crimo is expected to serve a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. Our thoughts continue to go out to everybody affected by this tragedy. <h6>Featured image credit: Xinhua / Alamy</h6>

Updated: The Highland Park shooting victims identified as death toll rises to 7

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