July 6, 2022
Chicago – Robert Crimo III, 21, of Highwood was charged with seven counts of first-degree murder, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said Tuesday. Dozens more charges are expected to be filed in the coming days.
Crimo appeared via Zoom before a judge Wednesday morning wearing a solid black T-shirt, his face betraying no emotion as a prosecutor said “he looked down his sights, aimed and opened fire at people across the street” while positioned on a rooftop overlooking the Highland Park July 4 parade.
If convicted, Crimo would be given a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole, according to Rinehart.
A witness reported seeing an individual with a gun on the rooftop of a building who was “scanning the ground with a gun and saw muzzle flashes come from the roof,” assistant state’s attorney Ben Dillon said.
Covelli said Crimo accessed the rooftop of a building using a fire escape ladder.
Covelli said Crimo then went to his mother’s house and borrowed her 2010 Honda Fit, which he drove to the Madison, Wisconsin, area before returning to Illinois, where he was spotted and arrested.
“Attempt murder charges, aggravated discharge charges, aggravated battery charges: There will be dozens of more charges against Mr. Crimo,” Rinehart said.
Highland Park parade shooting suspect contemplated shooting in Wisconsin before capture in Illinois.
Officials said three months after the second incident, Crimo obtained a firearm owners ID card after being sponsored by his father.
Illinois State Police said “there was insufficient basis to establish a clear and present danger and deny the FOID application.”
A second AR-15-style rifle was in the car, which investigators believe was also purchased legally. They also found multiple handguns in the Highwood home where Crimo lived with his uncle.
His uncle, Paul Crimo, said there were no warning signs before the attack.
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