Highland Park Fourth of July shooting suspect Robert Crimo indicted on 117 counts: On Wednesday, an Illinois grand jury indicted the man suspected of carrying out the shooting at the Highland Park Fourth of July celebration, Robert Crimo III, on 117 counts related to his role in the tragedy, which resulted in the deaths of seven people and injuries to scores more.
Crimo, age 22, is charged with 21 counts of first-degree murder out of a total of 117 counts, including three counts of first-degree murder for each of the victims who passed away.
“I’d want to express my gratitude to the members of law enforcement and the prosecutors who testified in front of the grand jury today. Our investigation is ongoing, and our victim advocates are working around the clock to provide support to all of those whose lives have been impacted by the criminal activity that led to the filing of 117 felony counts today “Eric Rinehart, the State’s Attorney for Illinois, said in a statement that was released on Wednesday.
According to Rinehart’s office, Crimo is also charged with 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm for each victim who was struck by a bullet, bullet fragment, or shrapnel. These charges are stacked on top of each other for a total of 96 counts of attempted murder and 96 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.
It is believed that Crimo ascended onto a roof above the Fourth of July parade that was taking place on Central Avenue and opened fire on bystanders with a Smith & Wesson M&P 15 rifle that he had lawfully purchased. He allegedly considered carrying out a second mass killing but it never happened, and he discarded the weapon at the scene of the crime in Highland Park, Illinois, although he did have another rifle with him when he traveled to Madison, Wisconsin.
The authorities have not yet identified a precise motive for the crime. Crimo’s arsenal consisted of a total of five firearms, all of which had been obtained lawfully and included both rifles and handguns. A search warrant executed in July allowed for the confiscation of those guns from his father’s residence.
According to the police reports, Crimo came from a disturbed home where there were regular calls to 911. One of these calls involved a threat that Crimo would kill himself, and the other involved an alleged threat to harm his family. Police responded to both of these calls. In spite of the threats and the repeated visits from the police, his father, Robert Crimo Jr., signed an affidavit that gave his son, who was 19 at the time, permission to apply for a state Firearms Ownership ID card, also known as a FOID.
FOID cards are required for citizens of Illinois who seek to lawfully own weapons. Applicants under the age of 21 additionally need to submit the signed and notarized approval of both of their parents in order to apply for a FOID card.
Katherine Goldstein, 64; Stephen Straus, 88; and Edwardo Uvaldo, 69, were the seven people who lost their lives as a result of the shooting. Jacki Sundheim, age 63; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, age 78; Irina McCarthy, age 35; and Kevin McCarthy, age 37; both were members of the McCarthy family.
On August 3, at 11 a.m., the suspect is scheduled to make an appearance in court.
