Robert Crimo's parents fought constantly, cops were called to shooter's home NINE times in 5 years
Highland Park shooter Robert “Bobby” Crimo III, who allegedly shot dozens of people during the Fourth of July parade grew up in a turbulent and violent home that involved domestic disputes, the Highland Park Police Department revealed in an arrest report. As per the newly released police records, the Highland Park police were called to the Crimo family home at least nine times between 2010 and 2014 in response to domestic disputes.
The shooting suspect's parents, Robert Crimo Jr and Denise Pesina were accused of having verbal or physical altercations in the majority of the incidents. During one incident in August 2010, Crimo Jr told police that his relationship with Pesina was "failing," that Pesina had struck him in the head with her shoe, and that she was intoxicated. Pesina told police that Crimo Jr "disrespected and belittled" her after making comments about her appearance, which made her drink, Chicago Tribune reported.
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Police later said they offered Pesina a packet containing information about domestic violence, but she said she already had one from a different domestic incident days before. Reporters attempt to contact the defendant's parents for comment in person regarding the matter. According to court records, neither Pesina nor Crimo Jr has been charged with domestic violence in Lake County.
Crimo III's parents drew attention after it was revealed that the shooter's father sponsored the FOID card application that allowed Crimo IIIto legally purchase the gun which he allegedly used to open fire on Highland Park holiday paradegoers.
In October 2010, police were called to the home after a fight between Pesina and Crimo Jr. According to the police report, Crimo Jr claimed Pesina "trash-talked" him, knocked all of his belongings off his dresser, and hit him with a screwdriver. In a police report, Pesina stated that Crimo Jr had been "making mean statements to me like always, calling me names." Crimo Jr later told police that Pesina did not try to hit him with the screwdriver and declined to include that information in his statement.
Crimo Jr and Pesina called the cops on each other twice for driving while intoxicated in the past. Once in June 2011, Crimo Jr called police, claiming Pesina was driving drunk to pick up her daughter and that when confronted about it, she blocked Crimo Jr. from leaving. While in November 2013, Pesina reported to police that Crimo Jr had attempted to drive to work while intoxicated. Pesina pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in Lake County in 2012.
According to court records, Pesina pleaded guilty to child endangerment in 2002 after leaving Crimo III, then about two years old, alone in a car with the windows rolled up for 27 minutes in the parking lot of a toy store. It was about 79 degrees outside at the time of the incident.
Police conducted a wellness check in September 2019, a few months before Crimo III applied for a gun permit, following a report that days earlier Crimo III had "made a threat in the household" stating "he was going to kill everyone." According to the police report, a person whose identity has been redacted said they were "afraid to go home" because of the threat and Crimo's knife collection. Police removed the knives from Crimo’s possession and filed a “Clear and Present Danger” report to the Illinois State Police.
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Crimo Jr told ABC News that despite his role in sponsoring his son's gun permit application, he is not responsible for the attack because he was simply following the law. ”You know, he went through the legal process. I don’t know if it’s guilt. I feel horrible as to what happened. Beyond horrible,” he said. Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly declined to comment Wednesday, July 6 on whether Crimo’s father could be held liable. A neighbor of the family, who declined to be named, told Chicago Tribune reporter on Thursday, July 7 that police would come to the Highland Park home on a seemingly weekly basis when the alleged shooter’s parents lived there together.