A judge in Lake County, Illinois, ruled on Wednesday that statements made by Robert Crimo III, the man charged with killing seven people at an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago in 2022, will not be thrown out. The judge, Victoria Rossetti, stated that Crimo willingly waived his right to remain silent while speaking to police and that there was no coercion, deceit, or intimidation preventing him from talking to a lawyer.
Crimo's defense team had argued that a lawyer hired by his family was present at the police station following the shooting but was not allowed to meet with him, alleging a violation of constitutional rights. However, Judge Rossetti pointed out that video evidence showed Crimo expressing his desire to continue the police interview rather than speak to a lawyer. She described the interview as 'conversational and non-threatening with an informal and relaxed atmosphere.'
Authorities have stated that Crimo, 24, confessed to the Highland Park shooting. Despite this, he has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including multiple first-degree murder counts. The trial, with jury selection scheduled to begin on February 24, will proceed as planned.
The tragic incident at the Independence Day parade in Highland Park resulted in dozens of injuries, including an 8-year-old boy who was left partially paralyzed. Panic ensued as families fled the parade route through downtown Highland Park, a community of approximately 30,000 residents near Lake Michigan.
The victims of the attack were identified as Katherine Goldstein, 64; Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63; Stephen Straus, 88; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; Eduardo Uvaldo, 69; and the married couple Kevin McCarthy, 37, and Irina McCarthy, 35.
