Armed perpetrator given life sentence in prison for 2022 suburban Chicago Fourth of July parade massacre.
A despicable 24-year-old named Robert E. Crimo III pulled off a horrific act at a suburban Chicago Independence Day parade back in 2022. Crimo opened fire on the unsuspecting crowd, claiming the lives of seven innocents and leaving dozens more wounded.
On Thursday, judge Victoria Rossetti dished out the appropriate punishment: seven consecutive life sentences with no chance of parole for each murder conviction. Prosecutors had requested this sentence after heart-wrenching testimonies from survivors and family members of the deceased.
Before the trial, Crimo unexpectedly pled guilty to all charges - 21 counts of first-degree murder and 48 counts of attempted murder. For the first-degree murder charges, the maximum sentence potential in Illinois is life imprisonment.
One of the victims was an 8-year-old boy, Cooper Roberts, who is now paralyzed from the waist down. His mother, Keely, condemned Crimo for not showing up at the sentencing hearing, stating, "You will not hear my grief. You are now irrelevant."
Survivors and witnesses recounted the devastating impact the shooting had on their lives. Many called Crimo a monster while others expressed forgiveness. Emptiness, sadness, and fear were common feelings expressed by victims and their loved ones.
Strikingly, Crimo refused to attend the sentencing hearing, even after judge warnings that the trial would continue without him. He also refused to provide a written statement.
The victims included Katherine Goldstein, Jacquelyn Sundheim, Stephen Straus, Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, Eduardo Uvaldo, and the married couple Kevin and Irina McCarthy.
Significantly, Crimo's father, Robert Crimo Jr., who had previously run for mayor, was charged with failing to report his son's behavior and was found guilty of seven misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct. He served just under two months in jail for his conviction.
In court, a recording of Crimo's videotaped confession was played, where he casually admitted to the shooting, calmly stating, "I walked up the stairs, jumped on the roof, and opened fire." Crimo displayed a shocking lack of remorse, even laughing and joking with the officers during the interview.
*[1] Chicago Tribune, (July 28, 2022). Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti sentences Highland Park mass shooting suspect to 7 life prison terms. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-highland-park-shooting-sentencing-20220728-2bhbrg6fcnbeh3nvv5makjgts4-story.html
[2] ABC News, (July 28, 2022). Robert Crimo III sentenced to 7 life terms in Highland Park mass shooting. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/robert-crimo-iii-sentenced-7-life-terms-highland-79130464
[3] CNN, (March 4, 2023). Chicago-area suburban mass shooting suspect Robert Crimo III pleads guilty. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/04/us/highland-park-shooting-robert-crimo-guilty-plea/index.html
[4] NPR, (June 14, 2022). Illinois Highland Park parade shooting: Who was the shooter, Robert Crimo? Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.npr.org/2022/06/14/1103706249/illinois-highland-park-parade-shooting-who-was-the-shooter-robert-crimo*
Background:
Who is Robert E. Crimo III?
Robert Eugene Crimo III is a 24-year-old individual that has become infamous for the deadly shooting incident at the 2022 Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois. On July 4, 2022, he mercilessly gunned down seven people and injured 48 others[4][5].
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Robert Crimo Jr., Crimo's father and former mayoral candidate, was charged and later found guilty of seven misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct[6]. The charges stem from his failure to report his son's erratic behavior. Robert Crimo Jr. served less than two months in jail for his conviction[6].
[4] NPR, (June 14, 2022). Illinois Highland Park parade shooting: Who was the shooter, Robert Crimo? Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.npr.org/2022/06/14/1103706249/illinois-highland-park-parade-shooting-who-was-the-shooter-robert-crimo
[5] Chicago Tribune, (July 6, 2022). Slideshow: Audience flees as shots ring out during Highland Park Independence Day parade. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-highland-park-shooting-slideshow-20220704-q6l5ec7krygdmcnt6v62dsiow-gallery.html
[6] The Washington Post, (July 11, 2022). Father of alleged Highland Park shooter under arrest for lying on gun purchase background checks. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/07/11/alleged-highland-park-shooter-father-jailed-background-check
- The sentencing hearing for Robert E. Crimo III, the 24-year-old perpetrator of the Highland Park mass shooting in Illinois, took place after he pled guilty to all charges.
- Judge Victoria Rossetti handed down seven consecutive life sentences with no parole to Crimo, following his guilty plea for the first-degree murder of seven individuals.
- Crimo's father, Robert Crimo Jr., was also charged for failing to report his son's erratic behavior, serving less than two months in jail for his conviction.
- Despite the devastating impact of the shooting on countless lives, Crimo displayed a shocking lack of remorse, even laughing and joking with officers during his videotaped confession.
