Two things about the mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois…
One: The Trump-endorsed Republican candidate for governor, Darren Bailey, speaking via video, told the citizens of Illinois that he was sending those ever-mentioned “thoughts and prayers” to those impacted by the shooting and added that folks should “move on and celebrate freedom.”
This was just hours after the incident that left 7 dead and dozens injured.
In the immediate aftermath of a deadly mass shooting while the shooter is at large, ILGOP nominee for Governor Darren Bailey goes on Facebook to offer prayers for families & police, voices frustrations about a canceled parade, and then says, “Let’s move on and celebrate freedom.” pic.twitter.com/vETKZNkJuJ
— Mark Maxwell (@MarkMaxwellTV) July 4, 2022
Two: I was listening to CNN in the car yesterday and a woman was being interviewed who had been at the parade when the gunfire occurred.
She mentioned she’d found a little boy wandering around who’d gotten separated from his family. She was hoping if CNN showed his face his parents would know he’d been found.
It turns out the boy was wandering around because both of his parents had been killed in the deadly shooting. I read about that moments ago and it felt like a gut punch.
A GoFundMe campaign has been organized to help pay for the parents’ funerals and help his grandparents raise little Aiden. At this writing, after about three hours, the $500K goal has been exceeded and is currently at $908,000.
2-year-old Aiden (image via Twitter)Remember this little boy found wandering alone after #HighlandPark parade? We’ve just found out why… both his parents were killed💔
A fundraiser has been started for Irina and Kevin McCarthy’s 2-yo son Aiden as he grows up without them
Link: https://t.co/qKc4mOVX2t @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/7fxYE3OoS4
— Marissa Parra (@MarParNews) July 5, 2022