Boy, 2, orphaned after parents killed in July 4 mass shooting
A devastated community is rallying around a two-year-old boy after he was orphaned when both his parents were killed in Chicago's July 4 mass shooting.
Aiden McCarthy ended up underneath his father Kevin's body, who is understood to have shielded his young child as a gunman opened fire from a rooftop during the busy parade, The Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Mr McCarthy, 37, was one of the seven people killed at the Independence Day event, as was his wife and mother of Aiden, 35-year-old Irina.
Her dad Michael Levberg told The Chicago Sun-Times his daughter was "everything" and the "love of [his] life".
After being told the devastating news, Mr Levberg went to pick up his grandson.
"Mummy and daddy are coming soon," Aiden told his grandfather, Mr Levberg recalled.
A GoFundMe page created for Aiden on Tuesday (local time) has amassed $1.4 million (A$2.06 million) as of 12pm AEST.
"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.
"Aiden is left in the unthinkable position; to grow up without his parents.
"He will be cared for by his loving family and he will have a long road ahead to heal, find stability, and ultimately navigate life as an orphan."
Boy found pinned under his dad
While CBS reports that Aiden was found by strangers wandering the streets alone, one witness, mum of two Lauren Silva, told The Daily Beast she and her boyfriend had discovered the bloodied boy pinned under his father.
"My boyfriend handed me this little boy and said he was underneath this father who was shot in the leg," she said, explaining the couple had rushed over to help after hearing gunshots.
"They were trying to stop the bleeding so I brought the boy downstairs into the garage."
Ms Silva said she cleaned up Aiden before being told by her boyfriend that Mr McCarthy had died.
Suspect’s chilling video emerges after six shot dead at Chicago parade
Frantic hunt for gunman ends after six shot dead at Chicago parade
Mr Levberg said the his daughter and son-in-law were "crazy about their child" and the family had been looking forward to the parade.
Dozens more were injured in the shooting, with video showing crowds of people, many children, fleeing the area as prams and children's toys lay scattered in the street.
Murder charges laid over mass shooting
Robert “Bobby” Crimo III, 21, has been charged with seven counts of first-degree murder following his arrest on Monday (local time). He allegedly led police on a seven-hour manhunt before his dramatic arrest.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said the shooting was "premeditated and calculated” and more charges for Crimo III will come shortly.
Hours after the shooting, disturbing videos of Crimo III emerged online, as well as one from his account where an animated character, which looks like the suspect, engaged in a stand-off with police.
A tweet believed to be from his account showed the numbers 4 and 7 repeated several times, which has been suggested to be a nod to the shooting's date.
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