Robert E. Crimo III: What we know about Highland Park shooting suspect
Robert “Bobby” E. Crimo III, 21, faces seven charges of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting, which authorities said he allegedly carried out by climbing onto the rooftop of a nearby business and opening fire minutes after the parade started, sending parade-goers and participants running for safety.
Investigators believe the suspect planned “this attack for several weeks,” Chris Covelli, spokesperson for the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, said at one of several news conferences Tuesday. The suspect dressed in women’s clothing to help conceal his identity, Covelli said, blended in with the crowds as they fled the area, and went to his mother’s house.
Law enforcement have yet to establish a motive, but Covelli said there has been no information to suggest the attack was “racially motivated, motivated by religion or any other protected status.” There is no indication anyone else was involved, Covelli said.
The suspect took his mother’s vehicle, and a member of the community saw him, Covelli said. That individual called 911, and then North Chicago police conducted a traffic stop and took him into custody.
He is due in court Wednesday, and Eric Rinehart, state’s attorney for Lake County, said he will ask a judge to keep Crimo held without bail. Rinehart said “dozens of more charges” will be added later. Attorney Thomas Durkin is representing Crimo, he confirmed to CNN.
Attorney Steve Greenberg said Tuesday he is representing Crimo’s parents and released a statement attributed to them.
“We are all mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, and this is a terrible tragedy for many families, the victims, the paradegoers, the community, and our own,” the statement says. “Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to everybody.”
Here’s what we know about the suspect:
Police took knives from home after Crimo said he would kill people
In September 2019, Highland Park Police went to Crimo’s home after a family member reported that he had said he was going to kill everyone, according to Covelli.
“The threat was directed at family inside of the home,” he said.
Police confiscated a collection of bladed items — 16 knives, a dagger and a sword — but made no arrests because there were no signed complaints against Crimo. Highland Park Police notified state police about the visit. At the time, involuntary commitment wasn’t an option, Covelli said.
The local police submitted a “Clear and Present Danger” report about the visit to the Illinois State Police, the agency said.
“The report indicates when police went to the home and asked the individual if he felt like harming himself or others, he responded no,” state police said in a second statement.
“Additionally and importantly, the father claimed the knives were his and they were being stored in the individual’s closet for safekeeping. Based upon that information, the Highland Park Police returned the knives to the father later that afternoon,” state police added.
State Police Master Sgt. Delilah Garcia said they looked at whether Crimo had a firearm owner’s identification (FOID) card that should have been revoked, but he had no card.
In a news release, Illinois State…
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