Highland Park, Illinois – The trial of a man accused of a mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade in the upscale suburb of Highland Park over two years ago is set to begin with opening statements on Monday. Robert “Bobby” E. Crimo III faces 69 counts of murder and attempted murder in connection to the July 4, 2022, incident, where seven people were killed and nearly 50 were injured. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison without parole, as Illinois abolished the death penalty in 2011.
During jury selection last week at the Lake County Courthouse, Crimo, a 24-year-old man adorned with tattoos and dressed in black, sat alongside his defense attorneys while potential jurors were questioned. Prosecutors decided to drop 48 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm against Crimo without explanation, a move unopposed by the defense team or the presiding judge.
Police revealed that Crimo, also known as Awake the Rapper in his music pursuits, meticulously planned the attack, positioning himself on a rooftop above the parade route before opening fire on spectators below. The victims included individuals of various ages, with the youngest being 8-year-old Cooper Roberts, who was left paralyzed from the waist down.
After the shooting, Crimo fled the scene disguised in women’s clothing but was later apprehended in Wisconsin as he contemplated another violent act. While initially indicating a willingness to accept a plea deal, Crimo later decided to maintain his not-guilty plea. In a twist of events, he dismissed his public defenders in late 2023 but subsequently requested their reinstatement. Additionally, his father, Robert Crimo Jr., pleaded guilty to seven felony counts related to the incident.
Crimo was found guilty of illegal conduct and was subsequently sentenced to serve 60 days in prison. This was due to his agreement to sponsor his 19-year-old son’s gun license application, despite a report from a relative a few months earlier indicating that Crimo possessed a collection of knives and had made threats of harm. Prosecutors have provided approximately 10,000 pages of evidence, as well as a videotaped interrogation where Crimo allegedly admitted to planning a mass shooting.
In a ruling last December, Judge Rossetti denied a request from Crimo’s defense team to exclude statements he made to the police following his arrest. The judge highlighted that Crimo had voluntarily waived his right to remain silent, and that law enforcement did not obstruct his communication with the attorney retained by his family for legal representation.
Crimo’s trial is anticipated to extend over a period of three to five weeks.
