Bobby Crimo, the Highland Park shooting victim was in court Wednesday to face multiple murder charges. Prosecutors shared additional details about his rampage.
Crimo was 21 years old and spoke softly, telling the court he did NOT have a lawyer. All-black was his attire. He wore long, dark locks that he draped over the one eye. Then he moved on to his feet via Zoom.
Judge Theodore S. Potkonjak denied him bond and he will be held in custody until the next court date, which is July 25th.
Tom Durkin, who was originally hired as his attorney, resigned because of an unexpected conflict of interest. Crimo now has a public defense attorney.
It was made public during the court appearance
- Crimo used a legally purchased Smith & Wesson M&P 15 to carry out the attack
- In 2020, he purchased the gun for around $800.
- Crimo fired total of 83 shots, and then reloaded his gun twice before running from Crimo on the parade route to the roof.
- The serial number was traced to the home of police who tracked him down. He ran away after he had dropped the weapon.
- After being taken into custody, he confessed to all the charges and said that he had ‘looked down and aimed at and fired’ in the crowd.
- According to him, he dressed like a girl and applied make-up on his neck and face.
Crimo also drove from the shooting to Madison in his mother’s car, where he was able to witness another July Fourth celebration.
Although police are not sure of his motive, they have confirmed that he was fixated on numbers 47, which is the opposite of 7/4 (the date on July 4th).
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Crimo was shown in court via Zoom earlier on Wednesday morning. Crimo spoke to only say he did not have a lawyer. He asked the court if they would name a public defense attorney.
All-black was his uniform, and his dark long hair was draped over his one eye. He then shifted his feet while Zoom filmed him from the room at Lake County Jail.
Although he thought of shooting another round there as he had 60 left, he decided to drive back to Illinois instead and was eventually arrested.
Lake County Major Crime Task Force spokesperson Chris Covelli said on Wednesday that Crimo didn’t go through with it because he didn’t plan it out as thoroughly as he had with Highland Park.
An earlier mugshot of him was made public. It shows him wearing a black shirt with dark hair and standing in a solitary position. He has full-length neck and cheek tattoos.
Crimo used a legally purchased Smith & Wesson M&P 15 to carry out the attack. In 2020, he purchased the weapon for around $800.
In the meantime, his attorney has spoken in defense of him to say that there was no reason for them not to call police.
Crimo was only 19 when Crimo applied for the FOID card, which is the permit to purchase guns. It was two months before a police call to Crimo’s family home.
After the incident, 16 knives were confiscated by police because Crimo “threatened everyone to die”.
His family claims that he was not taken into custody and that the officers gave him his knives back to him two weeks later.
Crimo’s mother and father have not been charged but they have retained a lawyer in Steve Greenberg, a local man who railed against the shooting on Twitter on Monday before realizing that his friends’ son was responsible for it. Crimo will be represented by two additional attorneys representing him from another firm.
He appeared on NewsNation Tuesday night to claim that his clients Bob Crimo & Denise Pesina did nothing wrong and to refute claims made by police about them being called twice to their family home in 2019.
‘I don’t think anyone’s ever aware of any red flags that make them think that their son is gonna go out in their own community and start shooting people.
They would have done something if they had seen the signs. They’re responsible parents,’ Greenberg said.
The police revealed that Crimo had been sponsored by his father to obtain a FOID Card (a license necessary for buying a gun) when he turned 19. This was just two months following an incident in the house where officers confiscated 16 knives, one dagger, and a sword from Bobby after he threatened to kill everyone.
In the midst of intense scrutiny about his decision to help son purchase a gun from him, the father’s attorney stated on Tuesday that the police “couldn’t have been too worried” because Bobby was given the knives back two weeks later.
Crimo (21 years old) is not expressive in the mugshots that were released Wednesday morning. His dark hair is dangled over his eye and he’s wearing a black T-shirt. He is displaying his neck and cheek tattoos.
Bob Crimo Jr. said that his wife Denise was also a mother and father, as well as sisters and brothers. This is a tragic tragedy for so many people, including the families of the victims and those who were present at the parade. All of us send our best wishes, prayers, and thoughts to you all.
Ross Cosmetics roof shooter left. He then fired into the parade from the fire escape staircase in an adjacent alley.
Aerial view of the parade route. Police were told by the gunman that he “aimed and fired” his weapon at the crowd.
“The police gave the knives back to them after taking them. This was two weeks ago. It was not surprising that the police were so alarmed. It was resolved after a minor dispute.
‘The bigger issue is why does a 20 year old or 21 year old, why is he able to get a FOID card and purchase a military style weapon. This is the main question to ask, and not just how did he acquire a FOID card even though there were no red flags. It was completely legal.
He also disputed the account of the incident that the authorities made public yesterday. ‘
He was never suicidal. They also denied that he claimed to be suicidal.
If he had, the police would have taken some action, placed him on a psychiatric watch. “I’m not sure that was what really happened,” he stated.
Greenberg claimed that the massacre was an awful tragedy for everyone involved. This includes the victims’ parents.
Imagine your child never getting out of jail, and waking up to discover that their loved one is being killed at a parade. Everyone involved is affected by this terrible tragedy.
He said that Crimo had spoken to his parents since the shooting and all of them were willing to cooperate with police.
He stated that the children had expressed their love to him, and that he did too.
Seven Deaths in Highland Park on July Fourth Shooting
As of Wednesday morning, seven people had died from the Highland Park Fourth of July massacre.
The victims include Stephen Straus, 88; Katherine Goldstein, 64; Jacki Sundheim, 63; Nicholas Toledo Zaragoza, 78; Eduardo Uvaldo, 69, and husband and wife Irina and Kevin McCarthy, 35 and 37.
Uvaldo died on Wednesday at Evanston Hospital. This was according to the Cook County Medical Examiner. Number of people injured is now at 46. They range in age anywhere from 8 to 85.
Robert Crimo (21 years old) appeared at Lake County Court on Wednesday after being accused of seven counts for first-degree murder. The suspect is facing a number of other charges and remains in custody without bail.
Eric Rinehart, Lake County State’s attorney said that Crimo committed a premeditated and calculated attack. He said Crimo confessed to standing on a roof above the parade route, and took aim at people standing across the street, reloading his Smith & Wesson AR-15 rifle three times.
The police recovered 83 used casings from the roof.
Irina and Kevin McCarthy, 35 and 37, were both killed in the massacre. Aiden, the father of their 2-year-old boy, was pulled under his body.
Nicolas Toledo (76), didn’t want to go to the Highland Park parade, Ill. on Monday with his granddaughter, because he was disabled.
Irina McCarthy and Kevin McCarthy, both 35 and 37 respectively, had Aiden as their child. Aiden is now alone. The paradegoers helped him to get out from beneath his father’s clothes.
Nicolas Toledo (76), was the first victim to have his identity revealed. The victim was a grandfather who visited his Mexican family. According to his family, he had been shot in the head while he was sitting in his wheelchair with his blood all over them.
Toledo had not wanted to attend the parade, his granddaughter told the New York Times. Because of his disability, which restricted him from using a wheelchair and the insistence of his family, Toledo agreed to go.
Jacki Sundheim, another victim was also a victim. Long-standing teacher at North Shore Congregation Israel synagogue. According to the Times of Israel, her husband Bruce is still alive and Leah is her daughter.
The synagogue released a statement saying that there are not enough words to adequately express our deep grief over Jacki’s passing.
Eduardo Uvaldo (69), died Wednesday after sustaining a gunshot injury to his arm and head. Maria, Maria’s wife was injured by fragments and her grandson sustained a gunshot injury to his arm. He is currently stable.
Cassie Goldstein was Cassie’s mother. She described on Wednesday how Katherine Goldstein died after her mother was shot in her chest.
She fell and was shot in her chest. Cassie explained to NBC Nightly News that she had known her death. “So I simply told her I loved and cherished her but he kept shooting at everyone right next to me, so I had no choice but to tell him that.
Katherine Goldstein (pictured right) was one of the victims in the Highland Park mass shooting that took place on July 4.
Steve Straus (88), was one of the seven victims of the Highland Park Fourth of Jul parade massacre. Eduardo Uvaldo (right), died Wednesday. According to his family, he was hit in the arm and the back of the head.
The local doctor that rushed to the scene of the massacre described the victim shootings as having been ‘blown up by’ the attacker’s high powered weapon.
Highland Park’s Dr. David Baum attended the parade along with his family to see his 2-year-old grandson. He ran to the aid of the wounded when the gunshots rang and other people fled.
Baum talked to CNN in an interview about the traumatic experiences of seeing victims who suffered ‘wartime and unimaginable injuries’.
Baum stated that the gunfire blew up all those who had been killed. “The horrible scene that some of these bodies left behind is unimaginable to the common person.”
“Having worked as a doctor, I have seen many patients in ERs. You know that there is a lot of blood. The bodies, however, were literal – at least some bodies had suffered an injury due to the gun’s power and bullets.
“There was another individual who sustained an inexplicable head injury.” CNN reported that he described the incident as “unspeakable.”
‘And the injuries that I saw – I never served – but those are wartime injuries. Baum stated that those are the injuries seen by victims of war and not parade victims.
Baum claimed that there were three or more doctors and at most one nurse who assisted him with treating the victims. Baum recalled that paramedics covered up victims they believed were already dead on the spot.
Steve Greenberg was the lawyer for the parents of the shooter. He insisted that the shooting had been a ‘nothing but right’ on Tuesday night.
Greenberg has taken to Twitter to complain about the Illinois State Police for approbating the FOID Card Crimo’s father sponsored.
“ISP should question why THEY approved a FOID Card and allow sale of assault weapons.”
Greenberg acknowledged Tuesday evening that he has been an old friend to the family over many years.
‘I’ve been a resident for the past 30 years and have known them since then. They are my role. I advise and assist them in this matter. Since I met the boy, I am familiar with his parents. It is a beautiful family.
Before he realized Crimo was responsible for the shooting, Crimo tweeted that Monday: “This my hometown, where I grew and raised my family.” This is what’s wrong with the people. These high-powered weapons !!!!! are unnecessary. F Ted Cruz, Mitch McConnell and all like them’.
After Robert Crimo threatened to kill his family and himself, the Illinois State Police received an ‘clear danger’ report in September 2019. They removed knives from the property, but later returned those, The Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Crimo was only 19 years old at the time. He was not arrested. He was two years under the legal age minimum to apply for the firearm owner’s identification (FOID) card needed to legally obtain a weapon.
Crimo was able to get a FOID card from his father in December 2019. It was approved in January 2020, despite all the threats of murder-suicide.
Since then, officials have said that they granted the permit to Crimo because there wasn’t enough basis for them to consider him dangerous. The only record in his file is a 2016 violation of the Ordnance Act regarding tobacco possession.
Twitter user Wedneaday criticized the lawyer for his stance against gun laws
Crimo therefore was legal-able to purchase the weapon that was used in Tuesday’s massacre.
He faces life in prison after being charged by the Illinois State’s Attorney’s office with seven counts of first-degree murder. Eric Reinhart from Lake County, State Attorney says Crimo could face ‘dozens of’ other charges related the victims he hurt.
At first, police claimed that Crimo wasn’t known. However, on Tuesday they disclosed that he had been interviewed two times by the authorities in 2019.
He threatened to commit suicide in April 2019, a week before the first. He threatened to “kill everybody” in his family and the second occurred in September 2019.
Although police found 16 knives, a sword and a dagger from the home of his wife, they did not arrest him.
Instead, he was allowed to purchase two assault rifles and three types of guns in Illinois when he turned 21. He is not certain why the incidents he experienced before acquiring the guns legally was not reported to the authorities.
‘It’s just a tragedy all the way around. Imagine yourself waking up and finding out that your child is killed in a parade. Imagine yourself waking up and realizing that your child might never be released from jail.
DailyMail.com’s Durkin stated that the suspect’s relatives first called him on the morning of the shooting, and then he was retained the next day.
He said that he didn’t have additional knowledge beyond the information already public.
Bob Sr., the suspect’s father ran unsuccessfully against Nancy Rotering for mayor. Rotering ran on an platform that promoted gun control.
Rotering confirmed on Tuesday that Crimo had ‘legally acquired’ the weapon. Rotering confirmed that Crimo had legally obtained his weapon when he was cub Scout. He said she also taught him as a child, but he was still a “little boy”. While police have yet to identify the weapon used by him, video and witnesses suggest that it was a high powered rifle.
“It is one of those cases where you have to look back and wonder, how did it happen? It is hard to believe that someone could become so angry, hateful and then turn on innocent families who were having fun.?
She stated, “He was just an infant boy.”
The charges were announced in a press conference by the Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart the day after the July 4 parade shooting that claimed the lives of seven people and injured dozens more.
Each case carries the maximum penalty of life imprisonment without parole.
Rinehart stated that Crimo might face nearly 12 additional charges including attempted murder and assault in his comments.
He stated, “These are only the beginning of many charges.”
Rinehart was not asked about the motivation for the shooting at the press conference.
Although the lawyer praised red flag laws, he called for a ban on assault rifles in all 50 states.
He stated that Crimo would be appearing in court via Zoom for his first time on July 6. Prosecutors will ask him to remain without bail.
Crimo’s father Bob Sr., was detained by police upon Crimo’s arrival at home on Tuesday
Chris Covelli from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office addressed the press on Tuesday about the incident in 2019.
In the April 2019 incident, ‘an individual contacted Highland Park department a week after learning of him attempting to suicide. The report was delayed.
“They arrived at his residence and talked to him, his family, and advised that they were referring the matter to the mental healthcare profession. It was not necessary to take law enforcement actions.
A September 2019 family member reported that the man claimed he wanted to kill everyone and had an extensive collection of knives. They responded and took 16 knives and a dagger from his home.
“There was no probable cause to make an arrest, and the victims did not file any complaints.” They did inform the Illinois State Police.
Bob Crimo Sr arrives home Tuesday and talks on the telephone
On Tuesday, police interviewed the father of Highland Park’s shooter. He has yet to make any comments public.
CNN was told by the uncle of the suspect that his family received a call from the FBI around 2:30 on the day of shooting
According to The Times of Israel, Crimo was also accused of “sizing up” the Central Avenue Synagogue, Highland Park, Illinois.
According to the website, Rabbi Yosef Shanowitz said that he knew the suspect because of an April 2022 incident. “During Passover, this person entered the Chabad synagogue,” the Rabbi stated. We have an armed security guard sitting in front… I approached him and sternly asked him to leave as I noticed he was not a member of our community.’
Crimo (21 years old) has yet to be charged with the murder, although he is still in police custody. Yesterday, he was seen hiding from the attackers.
In a separate interview with Forward.com, the congregation’s head of security Martin Blumenthal said of Crimo: ‘He was definitely sizing up the synagogue.’
Blumenthal claimed that Crimo was wearing black clothing and all-black gloves in a ‘gothic style. He claimed that Crimo was wearing all black clothes and gloves, but that no weapons were found in his backpack.
He continued, “He told me his name was Bobby. And he lived in that neighborhood.” He was always there. Blumenthal also said Crimo later left his bicycle.
Six victims of the shooting were named. They are Steve Straus, 88; Katherine Baldstein, 64; Jacki Sondheim, 63; Nicholas Toledo Zaragoza, 78; and husband and wife Irina and Kevin McCarthy, 35 and 37.
Aiden McCarthy was two years old when the McCarthys left their home. Aiden wandered alone after the shooting.
He fled with the terrified paradegoers and pretended to be one the victims after Monday’s attack. Then he went back to his mom’s home.
According to police, she did not know that he was her shooter and asked for her car. The shooter fled after she gave her the car.
This raises questions about the motives, lifestyle and obsession of the gunman with 47.
Crimo had an 47-digit tattoo placed on Crimo’s cheek.
On Tuesday Crimo left the car abandoned in his front yard after it had been raided and searched by FBI agents. Crimo posted the number on his social media pages, along with ominous videos about school shootings.
He was seen leaving his Highland Park home by the gunman on Tuesday. His obsession with 47, the date in reverse of July 4, was what drove him insane.
Bobby Crimo (right), Highland Park photographer, is pictured with Denise, his half-sister Lynette, and Sam, in a 2017 photograph.
Bobby Crimo 21 (right) and Sam Crimo (left). Both attended Lincoln Elementary school and, between 2008 and 2014 they participated in the LEAP after-school program. Coaches who taught them said that they were the most frequently picked up.
On Monday morning, the gunman fired at least 15 minutes after the start of the parade. The gunman fled from the scene, hiding throughout the day. He was finally arrested in Lake Forrest at 6.30pm. This is eight miles away from the site where the massacre took place.