Grandfather, 76, Identified as Victim of July 4 Parade Shooting: He 'Saved All Our Lives'

Mar. 15, 2025

A doting grandfather and dad of eight has been identified as one of the victims of themass July 4 shootingin Highland Park, Illinois.

Nicolas Toledo, 76, suffered three gunshot wounds when a shooter opened fire in the central district of Highland Park on Monday morning, sending hundreds of people running for safety.

“We were all in shock,” his granddaughter Xochil Toledo toldThe New York TimesMonday, saying that she thought the bullets were “part of the parade.”

“We realized our grandfather was hit. We saw blood and everything splattered onto us,” she added.

Xochil told theChicago Sun-Timesthat Nicolas, who had been visiting his family from Mexico, was “happy to be living in the moment” during theFourth of Julyparade before the shooting occurred.

“He was the one who saved all of our lives,” she added about the fact her grandfather took three bullets aimed at the family. “It would have gone to me, my boyfriend, or my cousins.”

Nicolas Toledo.Go Fund Me

nicolas toledo

Another of Nicolas' granddaughters, Kimberly Rangel, toldCBS News Chicagothat the family is “all feeling pretty numb” from his tragic death. “We’re all pretty broken inside,” she added.

For more on this story, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.

Aftermath of parade shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, on July 4, 2022.TANNEN MAURY/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Mandatory Credit: Photo by TANNEN MAURY/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (13017697o) Law enforcement officers investigate the scene of a mass shooting at a 4th of July celebration and parade in Highland Park, Illinois, USA, 04 July 2022. A gunman opened fire as people gathered to watch a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, killing at least six people and injuring dozens. Highland Park, Illinois, USA 4th of July parade shooting - 04 Jul 2022

According to theNew YorkTimes, Nicolas' son and Xochil’s boyfriend were also struck during the shooting but survived with non-life-threatening injuries.

AGoFundMehas since been established in Nicolas' name. In it, Xochil writes, “We ask you please keep our family and all the families of this horrible tragic in your prayers and stay strong as a community.”

The aftermath of Monday’s parade shooting in Highland Park, Illinois.TANNEN MAURY/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Mandatory Credit: Photo by TANNEN MAURY/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (13017697o) Law enforcement officers investigate the scene of a mass shooting at a 4th of July celebration and parade in Highland Park, Illinois, USA, 04 July 2022. A gunman opened fire as people gathered to watch a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, killing at least six people and injuring dozens. Highland Park, Illinois, USA 4th of July parade shooting - 04 Jul 2022

At least 24 people were injured and six were killed after a shooter opened fire in the central district of Highland Park on Monday morning, officials said Monday.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

“This individual is believed to have been responsible for what happened and the investigation will continue,” Covelli added. “Charges have not been approved yet at this time and we are a long way from that.”

Police have requested that anyone with footage of the area before, during, or after the incident contacts them. The FBI is collecting information as well via 1-800-CALL-FBI oron their official website.

source: people.com

Other Posts

Powered by Hugo