July 4 parade shooting suspect charged with seven murder counts, planned attack for weeks

This article is more than 12 months old

Jul 06, 2022 11:50 am

HIGHLAND PARK, Illinois (REUTERS) - The man accused of opening fire with a rifle from a rooftop onto a crowd of people watching a July Fourth parade near Chicago, turning the holiday celebration into another national tragedy, was charged on Tuesday (July 5) with seven counts of first-degree murder.

If convicted, the suspect, 21-year-old Robert E. Crimo III, would face a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted, Illinois states attorney Eric Reinhart said in announcing the charges at a news conference.

The prosecutor said the first-degree charges were to be followed by dozens of additional charges before the investigation is over, and that he would ask that Crimo remain held in custody without bail at the suspect’s first court appearance on Wednesday.

Authorities said Crimo had planned the attack for weeks and had come to authorities’ attention at least twice before on reports that he threatened suicide or harm to others, local officials said on Tuesday.

The suspect fired more than 70 rounds from a rooftop at random onto people watching Monday’s parade in Highland Park, Illinois, and then made his getaway dressed in a disguise to blend in with the panic-stricken crowd, authorities said.