WAUKEGAN, Ill. — A trial is slated to commence Monday for a suburban Chicago man charged with carrying out a mass shooting during a 2022 Independence Day parade in Highland Park, where seven people lost their lives and dozens were injured. This event shook the community located about 30 miles north of Chicago, profoundly impacting its residents.
Robert Crimo III, 24, has been indicted on 21 counts of first-degree murder, equating to three counts per victim, in addition to 48 counts of attempted murder. Last week, the prosecution decided to drop 48 lesser counts of aggravated battery as the jury selection process got underway.
The onset of the trial has not been smooth, marked by multiple delays attributed in part to Crimo’s erratic behavior, including turning down a plea agreement that caught even his own legal team off guard. During last week’s jury questioning, Crimo’s attendance was inconsistent, occasionally opting to remain in his jail cell rather than appear in court.
According to authorities, Crimo strategically positioned himself on a rooftop from where he unleashed a barrage of gunfire into the crowds gathered for the annual Fourth of July celebration. Prosecutors have amassed thousands of pages of evidential documents and numerous hours of video-recorded interrogations, during which Crimo allegedly admitted to the shootings, although he has entered a plea of not guilty.
The defense team has refrained from making any public comments in anticipation of the trial, which is expected to extend over approximately a month. Notably, Crimo’s father, Robert Crimo Jr., himself previously a candidate for mayor, has faced legal repercussions related to his son’s acquisition of a firearms license. In 2023, he pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct and served a brief jail term of less than two months.
During the pre-trial hearings, the elder Crimo has been a consistent presence, occasionally making eye contact with his son in the courtroom. While he refrained from detailing the case, he expressed a paternal sentiment, stating, “As a parent, I love my son very much. And Bobby loves this country more than anyone would ever know.”
The forthcoming trial is expected to feature testimonies from several law enforcement officials and survivors who witnessed the devastating impact of the shooting first-hand. Videos of Crimo’s statements to the police, which the defense unsuccessfully sought to exclude from the trial, will also be shown in court.
Crimo has posed challenges for the legal process, having dismissed his public defenders at one point and declared his intention to represent himself, a decision he later retracted. His unexpected refusal of a plea deal in June 2024, which would have allowed victims and their families an opportunity to confront him, added to the pre-trial complexities.
The community of Highland Park, a relatively affluent enclave of about 30,000 residents along Lake Michigan, has deeply mourned the tragedy. In response, city officials canceled the traditional parade in 2023, substituting it with a “community walk.” A parade was reinstated the following year but was rerouted and included a memorial to honor the victims.
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering reflected on the incident ahead of jury selection, emphasizing the community’s ongoing grief and determination to remember those affected: “Our community is once again reminded of the immense pain and trauma caused by the Highland Park shooting. Our hearts remain with the victims, their families, and all those whose lives were forever changed by that devastating day.”
Victims of the tragic event have not only dealt with their loss but have also initiated several lawsuits against the manufacturer of the semiautomatic rifle used in the shooting and against authorities for alleged negligence.
The individuals murdered in the attack included Katherine Goldstein, 64; Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63; Stephen Straus, 88; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; Eduardo Uvaldo, 69; and the married couple, Kevin McCarthy, 37, and Irina McCarthy, 35.
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