Highland Park Shooting: $2 Million Raised for 2-Year-old Boy Whose Parents Were Killed in Deadly Attack

The tragic Independence Day shooting at the Chicago suburb of Highland Park resulted in the deaths of seven people, with two dozen more injured. However, for one toddler, the incident is far more tragic, as 2-year-old Aiden McCarthy lost both parents to the shooter.

Among the seven people killed during the mass shooting were Kevin McCarthy, 37, and Irina McCarthy, 35, parents to young Aiden. CBS News reports that both were killed during the chaos, with Aiden being separated from them after the shooting ended.

Father Kevin Shielded Aiden as Shooting Began

Aiden's maternal grandfather, a Russian immigrant named Michael Levberg, picked up the little boy soon after the shooting. He recounted the events to the Chicago Sun Times. He said that Aiden went with his mother, father, and paternal grandmother, Margo McCarthy, to watch the parade. His grandmother was the one carrying him around the time the shooting began.

Margo McCarthy was one of those first people injured when the shooter opened fire on the crowd. According to her cousin Montgomery Kersten, she was holding the boy when she was struck in the ear and neck area. And as she fell, both Kersten and Levberg confirmed that Aiden's father, Kevin, shielded the boy. Unfortunately, Kevin McCarthy would be struck in the femoral artery and eventually die.

Kersten also added that Aiden's grandmother would have suffered a more serious injury if she was struck just a couple of millimeters more.

Photos of the little boy found alone after the shooting circulated. He was then found with a stranger but in shock. According to CBS News, a couple looked after him before the police eventually took him away to reunite with his grandparents in a hospital. Despite suffering from shock, Aiden was uninjured after the shooting.

Go Fund Me for Aiden Reaches $2.6 Million

Hearing of the young boy's plight, Irina Colon launched a GoFundMe page for Aiden, with the permission of his family. As of Wednesday evening, the GoFundMe page has hit $2.58 million.

The GoFundMe page attracted 36,000 donations from concerned citizens. According to Colon, she established it to support Aiden and the people caring for him in their time of need. She added that Aiden will be cared for by his loving family, though he will be having a long road ahead in terms of healing and finding stability.

The alleged gunman who shot at the crowd in Highland Park during the Independence Day parade was identified as 22-year-old Robert "Bobby" E. Crimo III. He is now under police custody following a manhunt and short police chase.

The gunman shot from the rooftops around 10:14 a.m. at Central Avenue and 2nd Street in downtown Highland Park. He then made a discreet getaway, making sure he wasn't seen. Police finally found and cornered him over eight hours later.

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Parents of toddler found alone after parade shooting among the 7 killed - KHOU 11