Highland Park shooting: Gunman Robert Crimo charged with seven counts of first-degree murder
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Highland Park shooter Robert Crimo has been charged with seven counts of first-degree murder for a “premeditated and calculated attack", prosecutors said. Robert E “Bobby” Crimo III faces life in jail. He has been charged with seven murder counts, one for each of the victims he shot dead on Monday’s Fourth of July parade, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart confirmed.
“Today, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office has charged Robert Crimo III with seven counts of first-degree murder for the killing spree that he has unleashed against our community,” Rinehart said at a press conference. "These are just the first of many charges that will be filed against Mr. Crimo.” Rinehart said that the office expects several other additional charges to be filed against Crimo, including attempted murder charges, aggravated battery charges and more.
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Inside the 8-hour manhunt that led to the capture of Highland Park killer Robert Crimo
If Crimo is convicted, the seven murder raps carry a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. “In the courtroom, we will seek the maximum sentence against this offender. Not because we seek vengeance, but because justice and the healing process demand it,” Rinehart said.
Crimo is reportedly scheduled to be arraigned at Lake County Courthouse Wednesday morning, July 6. Rinehart confirmed that he will ask the judge to hold Primo without the possibility of bail. Highland Park, he said, was devastated following the tragedy. “Hundreds, if not thousands, will be psychologically scarred by yesterday’s events,” Rinehart said. “These individuals, our community and Lake County will never be the same.”
Cops intercepted Crimo in North Lake Forest, Chicago, after 7 pm local time Monday, July 4, after spotting the silver Honda Fit he was last seen driving. Photographs that later surfaced showed the killer being pinned to the ground face-down by police. As many as seven people were killed after Crimo, armed with a powerful rifle, opened fire from a rooftop at a Fourth of July parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park. Highland Park Police chief Lou Jogmen had earlier described Crimo as "very dangerous". Panicked onlookers ran for their lives as the gunman opened fire from a nearby rooftop. The shooting began at around 10.14 am on July 4, police said.
Police Commander Chris O'Neill said the gunman had a "high-powered rifle" that he used to fire from the top of a commercial building. A rifle was recovered at the scene, as was a ladder attached to the building. Five of the seven victims died on the scene, while the sixth and seventh were rushed to hospitals where they succumbed to their injuries.
Clues of Crimo's horrific plan were uploaded on his YouTube page ZeroTwo in a vlog-style manifesto. Disturbing videos uploaded to his channel showed what looks like an illustration of a mass shooting and another that shows the street where the massacre took place. One of the videos even showed an illustration of cops shooting him. One of Crimo's videos, a song titled 'On My Mind', shows the shooter in a classroom. In the beginning, Crimo raps about a classmate he has a crush on, before reaching into his bag. The screen goes blank, and the next scene shows the classroom trashed. Crimo operated two channels, both of which were reportedly deleted for 'violating YouTube's Community Guidelines'.