HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (NBC) — A judge has denied bond for the suspect accused of killing seven people and wounding dozens of others in Highland Park.
Robert “Bobby” Crimo III, 21, was charged with seven counts of first-degree murder on Tuesday. Officials said he sprayed more than 70 rounds from a rooftop into a crowd attending a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park. Prosecutors said he reloaded his weapon three times.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said if Crimo is convicted of the first-degree murder charges, he would receive a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. He promised that dozens more charges would be sought.
Crimo appeared in bond court virtually Wednesday morning where a judge denied bond. Officials at a press conference said a motive is still unclear.
Rinehart said after Crimo’s arrest, he confessed to officials and admitted to the shooting.
Robert Crimo III | Lake County Major Crime Task ForceCrimo legally bought five weapons, including two high-powered rifles used in the shooting. Authorities said Tuesday that the purchases were allowed even though police were called to his home twice in 2019 for threats of violence and suicide.
The attack was made on the downtown parade around 10:10 a.m. Monday after shots were fired near Central Avenue and 2nd Street.
Officials on Tuesday said Crimo was wearing a dress and long-haired wig — possibly to hide his distinctive neck and face tattoos — and was able to blend into the crowd, posing as a bystander. After the shooting, he went to his mother’s home where he took her car and left the area. He was caught after someone recognized him and phoned North Chicago police.
He was arrested on Route 41 in Lake County after several hours of being wanted. Police said Crimo was able to drive into Wisconsin and back into Illinois following the shooting.
Lake County Major Crime Task Force spokesman Christopher Covelli said their investigation revealed that when Crimo drove to Madison he saw a celebration there and contemplated using the firearm in his vehicle to commit another shooting.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Lake County Coroner’s Office identified six of the seven victims. They are; Catherine Goldstein, 64, of Highland Park, Irina McCarthy, 35, of Highland Park, Kevin McCarthy, 37, of Highland Park, Jacki Sundheimm, 63, of Highland Park, Stephen Straus, 88, of Highland Park and Nicolas Toledo, 78, of Morales, Mexico.
The seventh victim was identified Wednesday as 69-year-old Eduardo Uvaldo. He was pronounced dead around 7:45 a.m. that morning.
