Crime & Safety
2-Year-Old Orphaned After Parents Killed In Highland Park Shooting
An online fundraiser to support the boy, found beneath his dying father's body, received $2.2 million in donations in less than 24 hours.
HIGHLAND PARK, IL — In his final moments, Kevin McCarthy shielded his 2-year-old son, Aiden, from a spray of bullets unleashed on parade-goers by a rooftop shooter, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
That’s where Aiden was found, covered in blood stains under his dying father in the midst of a holiday outing turned fatal, the New York Times reported.
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Kevin, 37, and his wife, Irina McCarthy, 35, both of Highland Park, were among seven killed in Monday’s massacre at the Highland Park Independence Day parade, according to authorities, leaving Aiden an orphan.
“At two years old, Aiden is left in the unthinkable position; to grow up without his parents,” said a GoFundMe campaign launched to support the boy, who has been reunited with his grandparents.
Find out what's happening in Highland Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Less than 24 hours after it was established, the online fundraiser had received more than $2.2 million in donations from over 41,000 people.
Irina was born in Russia and came to the Chicago area with her parents as a girl, where she attended DePaul University and built a career in pharmaceutical digital marketing, according to the Sun-Times. She met Kevin, who worked in gene therapy, through her job, the Sun-Times reported. The couple adored Aiden and were planning to have a second child, according to the Sun-Times.
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“Aiden 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,” the GoFundMe said. “He is surrounded by a community of friends and extended family that will embrace him with love, and any means available to ensure he has everything he needs as he grows.”
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