Terrified daughter left dying mum to flee Chicago gunman: 'Shooting everyone'

A devastated woman has detailed her mum's final moments before she was gunned down and killed during Chicago's July 4 mass shooting.

Cassie Goldstein, 22, was enjoying the parade with her mum Katherine "Katie" Goldstein, 64, before chaos erupted when suspected gunman Robert Crimo III allegedly took aim at revellers.

Katie was one of seven who were killed in the attack at Highland Park which left dozens more wounded.

Cassie Goldstein (left)  Katherine 'Katie' Goldstein (right)
Cassie Goldstein, 22 (left) was at the parade with her mum Katherine 'Katie' Goldstein, 64 (right) who was shot and killed. Source: NBC News

Moments before her death the 64-year-old was waving at floats and having a good time, her daughter told NBC news on Tuesday (local time).

That's when Cassie heard gunshots which she first mistook as firecrackers, and moments later she and her mum were running for their lives.

"I looked up and I saw the shooter shooting down at the kids," she told the US news outlet.

"I told her that it was a shooter and that she had to run."

'I knew she was dead, but I couldn't stop'

The young woman was running next to her mother when Katie was hit by a bullet. The 64-year-old was struck in the chest before falling to the ground.

"I knew she was dead," Cassie said." I just told her that I loved her, but I couldn’t stop, because he was still shooting everyone next to me."

Cassie kept running and eventually hid behind a bin, she revealed, and when the shooting stopped, she rushed back to her mum who was already dead.

The 22-year-old is remembering her as "the best mum in the world," while Katie's husband Craig Goldstein said she was "the kindest, gentlest person you’d ever meet," Huffington Post reported.

Katie was one of seven victims who were shot and killed during the attack, which also took the lives of couple Irina and Kevin McCarthy.

It's believed Mr McCarthy shielded his two-year-old boy who's now been orphaned after losing both his parents.

Robert
Robert "Bobby" E. Crimo III has been arrested and charged after seven people were killed during a July 4th parade in Chicago. Source: Twitter

Murder charges laid over mass shooting

Robert “Bobby” Crimo III, 22, has been charged with seven counts of first-degree murder following his arrest on Monday (local time). The arrest allegedly followed a seven-hour manhunt.

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said the shooting was "premeditated and calculated" and more charges for Crimo III are expected.

Shortly 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.

If Crimo III is convicted, he's looking at a life sentence.

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