The daughter of a Highland Park mass shooting victim has recalled in a new interview the terrifying moment her mother was killed right in front of her as the two ran from the shooting.
Cassie Goldstein, 22, said she was watching the Fourth of July parade with her mother, Katherine Goldstein, 64, in the small Chicago suburb when the chaos erupted.
“I was standing there with my mum and I heard what I thought were firecrackers going off down the street towards me. And then I looked up and I saw the shooter shooting at the kids,” Cassie told NBC Nightly News’ Lester Holt in an interview Tuesday. “And I told her it was a shooter and she needed to run.”
They were running together side by side when Catherine was hit by a bullet. She was shot in the chest and fell to the ground, Cassie said.
“I knew she was dead,” Cassie said on NBC. “I just told her I love her but I couldn’t stop because he was still shooting at everyone next to me.”
Police are deployed after a shooting erupted along the Fourth of July parade route in the affluent Chicago suburb of Highland Park, Illinois. via REUTERS Members of the FBI’s Evidence Response Unit investigate in downtown Highland Park, Illinois, a day after a deadly mass shooting. AP A children’s bicycle is abandoned after a mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade in the affluent Chicago suburb of Highland Park, Illinois. Reuters
The daughter’s survival instincts kicked in and she knew she had to leave her mother behind as suspected gunman Robert “Bobby” Crimo fired more than 70 shots at fleeing parade attendees.
“I just kept running and hid behind a trash can,” Cassie said.
Katherine was one of seven killed in the mass shooting. Dozens more were injured. Crimo has since been charged with seven murders and faces the possibility of remaining in prison if convicted.
Katherine Goldstein was one of seven victims who lost their lives during the mass shooting in Highland Park. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images A heart-shaped post in honor of the seven victims who tragically lost their lives during the mass shooting in Highland Park. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Cassie said Catherine was grieving the loss of her own mother, who recently passed away, and decided to attend the Independence Day parade as an outlet.
The day before the shoot, mother and daughter had spent the day together visiting botanical gardens, eating a treat at Dairy Queen and watching a movie.
“She was just a good mother. And I have 22 years with her. And I got to be 22 years old with the best mom in the world,” Cassie said through tears.
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