The trial of a suburban Chicago man accused of a mass shooting at a 2022 Independence Day parade that killed seven people and wounded dozens more is set to begin. Robert Crimo III faces 21 counts of first-degree murder and 48 counts of attempted murder. Prosecutors dropped 48 counts of aggravated battery before jury selection. Crimo pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder just before opening arguments.
Authorities allege Crimo fired into crowds assembled for the annual Fourth of July parade in downtown Highland Park. Prosecutors have submitted evidence, including a videotaped interrogation where Crimo confessed to the shooting. Despite this, the 24-year-old has pleaded not guilty.
The road to the trial has been tumultuous, with delays attributed to Crimo's erratic behavior. He fired his public defenders, expressed intent to represent himself, and rejected a plea deal unexpectedly. His father, Robert Crimo Jr., faced charges related to his son's gun license and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct.
Residents of Highland Park, deeply affected by the tragedy, have mourned the losses. The community canceled the parade in 2023, opting for a 'community walk,' and reinstated the parade last year with a memorial for the victims.
Prosecutors plan to call law enforcement officers and survivors of the shooting to testify during the trial, which is expected to last about a month. Survivors and families have filed lawsuits against the rifle manufacturer and authorities for negligence.
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering expressed solidarity with the victims and their families, acknowledging the ongoing pain caused by the shooting. The trial will shed further light on the tragic events that unfolded during the Independence Day parade in 2022.
