WAUKEGAN, Ill. — In a recent court appearance, the man charged with the tragic killing of seven individuals during an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago in 2022 faced allegations from his defense team asserting that he was denied his right to legal counsel while being interrogated by law enforcement shortly after the incident.
Robert Crimo III has reportedly confessed to the mass shooting, which also resulted in numerous injuries. His attorneys are attempting to exclude video recordings of his police statements from the upcoming trial, scheduled to commence in February. During the nearly three-hour hearing, insights into the evidence expected to be presented at the trial were shared, including testimonies from police officers, photographs, and video recordings of statements previously made by Crimo.
At 24 years old, Crimo has pleaded not guilty to numerous charges, including multiple counts of first-degree murder. He remained silent throughout the Thursday hearing, dressed in a dark blue jail jumpsuit. As he entered the courtroom, he made a two-finger gesture, commonly interpreted as a sign of “victory” or “peace.”
Crimo’s defense argued that his family had engaged an attorney who was present in the police station lobby on the night of the shooting; however, law enforcement did not permit Crimo to meet with him. Public Defender Greg Ticsay argued in court, “He is never told that he has his attorney, an attorney retained for him. It’s clear he was never given access. They violated his due process rights.”
On the other hand, prosecutors strongly refuted these claims, stating that Crimo cooperated voluntarily after being given the opportunity to make phone calls, was informed about the attorney in the lobby, and had his Miranda rights explained multiple times. Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Jeff Facklam commented, “He knew why he was there. He knew what they were going to question him about. He knew what right he was giving up.”
Prosecutors presented video evidence of the police interview where Crimo was repeatedly asked if he comprehended his Miranda rights, which include the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. In one segment, Crimo remarked, “I can read them to you from memory.”
Judge Victoria Rossetti of Lake County Circuit Court indicated that she would provide a written decision on the matter soon. The case has experienced delays for several months, largely due to Crimo’s erratic behavior. He previously failed to attend two court hearings, refusing to exit his jail cell. At a June hearing, expected to facilitate a plea deal and allow victims to address him, he unexpectedly rejected the offer. Initially indicating his desire to represent himself, he later reversed that decision.
The shooting inflicted injuries on many, including an 8-year-old boy who now faces partial paralysis. Eyewitnesses recounted the chaotic scenes that unfolded as gunfire erupted, leading to panic as families attempted to escape the parade route in Highland Park, a wealthy suburb close to Lake Michigan with a population of approximately 30,000.
Among the deceased were Katherine Goldstein, 64; Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63; Stephen Straus, 88; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; Eduardo Uvaldo, 69; and the married couple Kevin, 37, and Irina McCarthy, 35.