On Monday, a Chicago man accused of killing seven people and injuring 48 others in the 2022 Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, agreed to flip his plea to guilty in court.
In 2022, an Illinois grand jury indicted Robert Crimo III, 24, on 117 counts for his role in the tragedy, including 21 counts of first-degree murder comprised of three counts of first-degree for each deceased victim.
Crimo is also charged with 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm for each victim who was struck by a bullet, bullet fragment, or shrapnel, according to Illinois State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart’s office.
The suspect allegedly climbed on a roof above the Fourth of July parade on Central Avenue and opened fire on spectators with a legally purchased Smith & Wesson M&P 15 rifle.
Crimo dropped the rifle at the scene in Highland Park but had another rifle with him as he drove to Madison, Wisconsin, and allegedly contemplated a second mass shooting that never materialized.
Crimo had a total of five legally purchased firearms, including rifles and handguns. Those weapons were seized from his father’s home pursuant to a July search warrant.
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The shooter realized how corrupt the Cook County court system is and figured they’d let him off with an anklet device. Murderers go free in Cook County all the time.