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Highland Park suspect initially charged with 7 counts of murder

Key updates
State police: Suspect’s father sponsored gun permit application; ‘insufficient basis’ to deny
A weekend of gun violence captures the scope and scale of a national epidemic
No clear motive found for shooting, police say
On July 5, the Highland Park shooting suspect was charged with seven counts of murder with more charges expected in the coming days. (Video: Neeti Upadhye/Reuters)
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Updated July 6, 2022 at 12:59 a.m. EDT|Published July 5, 2022 at 7:51 a.m. EDT
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HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — Authorities on Tuesday charged the man suspected of opening fire on the crowd at a Fourth of July parade in this Chicago suburb with seven counts of first-degree murder and pledged “dozens of more charges” in coming days, as reports of his previous contact with law enforcement prompted residents to ask whether more could have been done to prevent the massacre.

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart announced the initial charges against 21-year-old Robert E. Crimo III at a news conference, calling the Monday mass shooting, which also injured more than 30 people, “a premeditated and calculated attack.”

“Lake County will never be the same,” Rinehart said.

If convicted, Crimo could spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. Illinois repealed its death penalty in 2011.  
State police: Suspect’s father sponsored gun permit application; ‘insufficient basis’ to deny
A weekend of gun violence captures the scope and scale of a national epidemic
No clear motive found for shooting, police say

Here’s what else you need to know

  • Crimo purchased five firearms, including rifles and handguns after he threatened to “kill everyone” in an incident at his home, the police said.
  • Lake County coroner identified six of the seven victims in the shooting.
  • A doctor who treated victims said some suffered “unspeakable” wounds that were essentially “wartime injuries.”
  • DNA obtained from a rifle at the scene of the shooting played a vital role in identifying the suspect, authorities said.
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Here's what to know:

Crimo purchased five firearms, including rifles and handguns after he threatened to “kill everyone” in an incident at his home, the police said.
Lake County coroner identified six of the seven victims in the shooting.
A doctor who treated victims said some suffered “unspeakable” wounds that were essentially “wartime injuries.”
DNA obtained from a rifle at the scene of the shooting played a vital role in identifying the suspect, authorities said.

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