The family of the grandfather that was killed in the Highland Park mass shooting has spoken out and recalled the devastating ordeal.
At least six people were killed and several dozen were left injured after 22-year-old Robert ‘Bobby’ Crimo III allegedly opened fire on the attendees of the Fourth of July parade from the rooftop of a local store.
Among the deceased victims was 76-year-old Nicolas Toledo, a US and Mexico citizen who was identified by his heartbroken family after the deadly incident.
Speaking to the New York Times, the man’s granddaughter, Xochil Toledo, recalled the moment her grandfather was struck by a bullet while in a wheelchair.
“We were all in shock. We thought it was part of the parade. Then we realized our grandfather was hit. We saw blood and everything splattered onto us,” she explained.
According to the family, the elderly man was shot three times along with two other family members who didn’t suffer life-threatening injuries.
“We brought him over here so he could have a better life. His sons wanted to take care of him and be more in his life, and then this tragedy happened,” the grieving granddaughter added.
As Xochil revealed, her grandfather was both a citizen of Mexico as well as the US. Though he initially planned on staying in Mexico, he decided to move to Highland Park to be closer to the rest of his family just months before the shooting.
Speaking out was also Nicolas’ daughter, Josefina Toledo, who told The Daily Beast that her father was killed while sitting in his wheelchair.
“We all threw ourselves to the ground. My dad, since it’s difficult for him to walk … he was sitting on his walker and he was hit in his back and in his head,” she recalled.
According to Toledo, it was her family’s tradition to proudly celebrate Independence Day together as a family.
Our thoughts are with the victims of the shooting and their families.
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