21-Year-Old Illinois Shooter Robert E. Crimo III on Wednesday confessed to shooting the participants of Monday’s Independence Day parade in Highland Park. The dreaded shooter told the authorities how he emptied 30-round magazines of his automatic rifle, killing scores of people.
Crimo, who’s been charged with seven counts of first degree murder, said that he ‘looked down his sights, aimed and opened fire’ on those taking part in the Independence Day parade. Crimo said that he emptied two 30-round magazines before loading his weapon with a third as he continued to fire indiscriminately at the participants of the parade.
Crimo appeared for the hearing wearing black. The judge hearing the case, according to CNN, said that the killer of Highland Park should be held without bond on seven charges of first-degree murder.
Crimo had opened fire at the participants of the 4 July parade from a rooftop. He had disguised himself as a woman to escape from the scene. The shooter went straight to his mother’s house and took her car to flee until he was arrested.
Investigators have said that he planned his massacre for several weeks. It had emerged on Tuesday that the police seized knives and a sword from the Illinois shooter’s home in 2019 after a relative reported he threatened to “kill everyone.” Questions may arise as to why he was not placed under surveillance after the discovery of weapons and his intention to kill way back in 2019.
However, the police say that they had no grounds to arrest him then. Crimo is believed to have purchased several firearms immediately after that incident in 2019.
Meanwhile, more details have emerged about Crimo’s past life. Many of his former school friends have shed light on his childhood and upbringing.
Punishment
Crimo’s conviction, which appears to be mere formality, would result in a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said that several more charges could be filed in the future, making it impossible for him to come out of jail in his lifetime.