WAUKEGAN (Ill. aEUR”) Friends, neighbors, and dignitaries paid respects to Eduardo Uvaldo’s family Saturday. He was one of seven people killed in the attack at a Chicago-area July Fourth parade.
Uvaldo (who would have been 70 years old on Friday) was originally from Mexico and moved to the United States as a teenager. Uvaldo, who would have been 70 on Friday, was a Mexican native who first moved to the United States when he was 15.
His obituary stated that he was “funny, charming, handsome and caring” and that he loved his family. His presence brought joy to all his family members.
Lilia Cervantes, an attendee at the memorial chapel of Waukegan’s visitation, told reporters that Uvaldo had been her friend for over 20 years and that she had worked with him for eleven years.
She said in Spanish, “It’s very difficult for family and coworkers.” He was extremely kind.”
Governor. J.B. Pritzker, Lieutenant Gov. Juliana Stratton is Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, and Highland Park’s Police Chief Lou Jogmen.
Uvaldo, who was wounded during the parade attack, died Wednesday in Evanston Hospital.
Three of the victims were also buried separately on Friday: Jacquelyn, 63, Stephen Straus, 88, and Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza (78). Uvaldo was from Waukegan which is a city just north of Highland Park, along the Lake Michigan coast.
The funeral details of the other victims of the attack are not yet public. Authorities have identified them both as 64-year old Katherine “Katie” Goldstein and a married couple, Irina McCarthy (35-years-old) and Kevin McCarthy (37-years-old), who were at the parade with their 2-yearold son.
According to police, the victims were shot randomly and the attacker had no religious or racial motivation.
Robert E. Crimo III was charged with seven counts first-degree murder. Prosecutors anticipate that they will bring additional charges to cover the injuries sustained by more than 30 victims in the attack.
Investigators believe Crimo, a neighbor from Highwood, purchased legally five weapons and planned the attack for weeks. He then climbed onto the roof at a business on the parade route, and lit a fire with a semiautomatic rifle.
Crimo was reported to have fled the parade, blending in with the crowd and driving to Madison, Wisconsin where he thought about a second attack. Police spotted his car in the Highland Park area.
There are still questions about whether Crimo should be allowed to legally buy firearms in Illinois. After receiving reports of Crimo making violent and suicidal threats, the Illinois State Police approved his gun license in December 2019.
