At a news conference held on Tuesday evening, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart announced that the suspect in the mass shooting that occurred on Monday at a July 4th parade in Highland Park, Illinois, and left seven people dead and more than twenty-dozen injured has been charged with seven counts of first-degree murder.
According to Rinehart, the allegations against 21-year-old Robert E. Crimo III could result in a mandatory life sentence.
Rinehart stated that additional charges, such as those for attempted murder, aggravated discharge, and aggravated battery, are anticipated.
Thomas Durkin, an attorney, verified to CNN that Crimo is his client. According to an email supplied to CNN on Tuesday night, lawyer Steve Greenberg has been hired to defend Crimo’s parents.
On Twitter, the lawyer posted a statement in favour of the accused’s parents.
“This is a sad sorrow for so many families, the victims, the parade attendees, the town, and our own. We are all moms and fathers, sisters and brothers. Our hearts, minds, and prayers are with everyone “The sentence was read.
Six of the seven individuals murdered in the incident have been identified by police as of Tuesday morning.
During the press briefing, Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek delivered the list of names. These are the victims:
64-year-old Highland Park’s Katherine Goldstein
35-year-old McCarthy, Irina from Highland Park
37-year-old McCarthy Kevin from Highland Park
63-year-old Highland Park’s Jacquelyn Sundheim
88-year-old Highland Park’s Stephen Straus
78-year-old Mexico’s Morelos region’s Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza
According to Christopher Covelli, a representative for the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, 45 persons lost their lives or were hurt as a result of the shooting.
The Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering mentioned that the focus of the inquiry has changed from the gunman to “the casualties and those left behind” over the past 36 hours.
Investigators’ findings that the alleged shooter may very well have planned the attack “for several weeks” and that he may have worn women’s clothing to hide his identity and facial tattoos during the shooting and to aid in his escape with the crowd that fled in the aftermath have led to the release of the victims’ names, according to Covelli.
He appeared to be an innocent bystander as well, Covelli claimed late Tuesday morning at a press conference outside Highland Park police headquarters.
Additionally disclosed by Covelli on Tuesday, Crimo had previous two run-ins with the authorities.
A person mentioned Crimo’s suicide attempt to authorities in April 2019. According to Covelli, the situation was addressed by mental health specialists after officials conversed Crimo and his parents.
Furthermore, in September 2019, a member of the family said that Crimo had a stockpile of knives and had threatened to “murder everyone,” according to Covelli.
16 knives, a dagger, and a sword were taken from their home by police. The incident was reported to Illinois State Police by Highland Park police.
“There was no reason to arrest at the time. No victims’ signatures were found on any complaints, “said Covelli.
According to Covelli, Crimo legitimately acquired five firearms between 2020 and 2021, including a shotgun, a pistol, and several rifles, soon after the September event. In Illinois, a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card is required to purchase a firearm.
A news release from the state police stated that because Crimo was still under 21, his father sponsored him. As there was an “insufficient foundation to show a clear and present threat” at the time, Crimo’s appeal was not rejected.
According to Covelli, investigators are still looking for a reason behind the shooting on Monday.
