The suspect accused of the mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Ill., which killed seven people and injured dozens of others, has been indicted on 117 counts.
Prosecutors announced Wednesday that the suspect, Robert Crimo III, faces 21 counts of first-degree murder, which breaks down to three counts of first-degree murder for each victim who died. According to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, the 21-year-old is also facing 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm for each parade victim who was injured by a bullet or shrapnel. Crimo was initially charged with seven counts of murder after his arrest; he will appear in court next week to be arraigned on the new charges. He is currently being held without bond.
Crimo confessed to opening fire on the parade crowd from a nearby rooftop. Authorities believe Crimo had planned the mass shooting for weeks, saying he used a “high-powered” weapon and fired more than 70 rounds into the crowd of parade participants and attendees before dropping his rifle. Crimo was granted a permit for his weapon and had passed four background checks in 2020 and 2021. Crimo’s father, former Highland Park mayoral candidate Robert Crimo Jr., sponsored his son’s gun application for a license in December 2019; the suspect bought the gun legally in Illinois.
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