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Highland Park July 4 parade shooter faces 117 felony counts

Crimo allegedly confessed to the shooting when authorities apprehended him

Published: July 27, 2022 4:22pm

Updated: July 27, 2022 4:40pm

A grand jury on Wednesday announced it would indict the man accused of firing on a July 4 parade in Highland Park on 117 felony charges.

Prosecutors previously charged Robert E. Crimo III with seven counts of murder, CBS reported. Crimo's attorneys have not yet responded to any of the charges.

Crimo, 21, allegedly fired at least 70 rounds into a crowd that had gathered to watch a July 4 parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park. Seven people died in the attack while dozens more sustained injuries.

Police said he disguised himself as a women to evade capture and that he was plotting a second shooting when authorities apprehended him in Wisconsin.

Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering revealed this month that she knew the suspect well as a child. "I was his Cub Scout pack leader," she told the outlet. "… My heart breaks for everybody in this town. I'm not sure what happened to him to compel him to commit this kind of evil in his hometown, but we have a city that is in deep mourning today, and we are going to take a long time to heal from all of this."

Police reports that became public after the shooting show that Crimo's parents had a violent relationship and drank heavily during his childhood.

Crimo allegedly confessed to the shooting when authorities apprehended him.

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