Latest news with #Crimo
Chicago Tribune
30-04-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Crimo the latest murderer sent to Stateville
Authorities quickly hustled convicted mass murderer Robert Crimo III out of the Lake County jail last week and to his new home at Stateville Correctional Center. Surely, Lake County corrections officers weren't sad to see him pack up and go. While the county jail has never been known for posh surroundings, it will seem like a country club compared to the aging state prison in Crest Hill in Will County, which is what the 24-year-old deserves since Illinois unfortunately doesn't have the death penalty. 'Due to the hard work of the Circuit Clerk's Office quickly processing all of the post-conviction paperwork, our Corrections Team was able to transfer the defendant to an Illinois prison,' Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg told one news outlet. 'Our correctional officers did a terrific job getting the defendant transferred quickly, to the place he will spend the rest of his life.' After unexpectedly pleading guilty last month to the first-degree murders of seven spectators at the July 4, 2022, parade in Highland Park and the attempted murder of 48 people wounded in the attack, he will spend the rest of his life in an Illinois Department of Corrections facility given that Stateville is scheduled to be closed. He has no chance of parole. Lake County Circuit Court Judge Victoria Rossetti sentenced the gunman to seven consecutive natural life sentences for each victim he killed, plus 50 years for the other parade-goers he was convicted of shooting. 'The court finds that the defendant is irretrievably depraved, permanently incorrigible, irreparably corrupt and beyond any rehabilitation,' the judge said at sentencing. Nineteen victims of the shootings and their loved ones testified with emotional victim-impact statements of grief, trauma and loss from the attack, which killed or injured people ranging in age from 8 to 88. The killings devastated the Highland Park community. Murdered along the parade route were Katherine Goldstein, 64; Irina McCarthy, 35, and her husband, Kevin McCarthy, 37; Stephen Straus, 88; Jacki Sundheim, 63; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; and Eduardo Uvaldo, 69. They were there on a sunny summer day to celebrate the nation's birthday. Crimo remained absent during the two-day sentencing hearing last week as he continued to play with authorities, and the families and friends of his victims killed when he unleashed 83 high-powered bullets from a rooftop along the Independence Day parade route. Changing his pleas since the horrific parade shootings and even one time blaming the FBI for the murders, Crimo has failed to acknowledge the evil he accomplished at the parade by using an assault-style rifle his father enabled him to purchase, despite numerous indications that the young man should not have gotten anywhere near any firearm. Robert Crimo Jr. sponsored his son's state Firearm Owner's Identification card, which allowed him to buy the AR-style weapon he used in the massacre. The father pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless conduct and was sentenced to 60 days in county jail in 2023. A lawsuit against Smith & Wesson, the manufacturer of the weapon used, gun shops, and Crimo III and his father is winding its way through the judicial system. This, while survivors of those murdered will be reminded of their losses daily. Crimo may be placed in solitary confinement for his initial stop at Stateville, a maximum-security state prison which holds some 3,500 inmates. Illinois taxpayers will pay for his stay at an estimated $32,000 a year. The worst mass-murderer gunman in Illinois, Crimo will follow other monsters who have called Stateville home over the decades. Like John Wayne Gacy, the Norwood Park Township serial killer who murdered at least 33 young men and boys during the 1970s. Gacy, convicted of his crimes in 1980, was executed by lethal injection at Stateville on May 10, 1994, when Illinois still had a Death Row. Richard Speck, who stabbed and strangled eight student nurses in Chicago in 1966, died of a heart attack in Stateville in 1991, just before his 50th birthday. Other members of the Stateville rogues' gallery include William Heirens, convicted of three murders in 1946; and Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, the infamous 'thrill killers' of 1924 who were spared the death penalty. Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart, whose prosecution team had insurmountable evidence that Crimo was the only suspect in the parade shootings, said the murderer laughed and made jokes during his initial police interrogation, and has never shown remorse for his actions. Maybe that contrition will come as Crimo ages in the cage in which he will reside for the coming decades. That is, if he lives that long. Notorious killers have a way of losing their lives at the hands of fellow inmates, like Loeb, who was killed by another Stateville prisoner; the 'Boston Strangler' Albert DeSalvo, who was found stabbed to death while in a Massachusetts prison infirmary; and Milwaukee serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, who was beaten to death while in a Wisconsin prison.
American Military News
26-04-2025
- American Military News
Illinois parade shooter sentenced to life in prison without parole
Robert Crimo III will spend the rest of his life in prison for opening fire on spectators at the 2022 Highland Park Independence Day Parade. Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti imposed the expected sentence Thursday after listening to statements from 19 survivors and loved ones of people killed in the mass shooting. He was sentenced to seven consecutive natural life sentences without the possibility of parole − one for each of the seven people he murdered — plus an additional 50 years for the four dozen spectators he injured. 'The court finds that the defendant is irretrievably depraved, permanently incorrigible, irreparably corrupt and beyond any rehabilitation,' Rossetti said. The proceeding has been temporarily halted because Crimo —who repeatedly declined to attend the two-day hearing — reportedly decided he wanted to make an appearance. The judge had already issued the seven consecutive life sentences when she abruptly called for a break. 'A mass shooting is like a bomb blast throughout a community,' said Highland Park resident Erica Weeder, who was injured in the attack alongside her husband. 'Because of this mass shooting, this act of terror, I, my children, and our entire community now know that no one is ever really safe.' The 24-year-old gunman unexpectedly pleaded guilty last month to 21 counts of first-degree murder and 48 counts of attempted murder, minutes before opening statements were set to begin in his murder trial. His decision eliminated the need for a weekslong, high-profile court battle that would almost certainly have ended in a guilty verdict. Under state law, anyone found guilty of committing two or more murders receives an automatic life sentence in prison with no possibility of parole. Before Rossetti announced her decision, Crimo's attorney said the shooter understands he will die in prison because of his actions. Killed in the shooting were Katherine Goldstein, 64; Irina McCarthy, 35, and her husband, Kevin McCarthy, 37; Stephen Straus, 88; Jacki Sundheim, 63; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; and Eduardo Uvaldo, 69. Several victims and their families remain in civil litigation related to the shooting, including against Crimo III, his father, gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson and the gun shops that helped Crimo III get his weapons. Several lawsuits also have been filed against the Illinois State Police for approving Crimo's Firearm Owner's Identification card application despite concerns he was a danger to public safety. Crimo's father, Robert Crimo Jr., sponsored his son's FOID card, which allowed him to purchase the high-powered rifle used in the shooting despite red flags. Crimo Jr. pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct for his role in helping to secure the gun permit and was sentenced to 60 days behind bars in late 2023. Several survivors spoke about the need for gun control during their impact statements, saying there was no reason for Crimo to have the AR-15-style assault rifle he used to fire 83 bullets at spectators over a 40-second period. 'My dad was living the American Dream,' said Karina Mendez, whose father Eduardo Uvaldo was among those killed. 'And died the American nightmare.' ___ © 2025 Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Highland Park convicted killer now in Stateville Prison
Robert Crimo III, the man who admitted to fatally shooting seven people and wounding dozens of others during a 2022 Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, has reported to prison. The Lake County Sheriff's Office issued a statement that said the 24-year-old was transferred to an Illinois prison Friday morning. 'Due to the hard work of the Circuit Clerk's Office quickly processing all of the post-conviction paperwork, our Corrections Team was able to transfer the defendant to an Illinois Prison this morning,' Lake County Sheriff's Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said in the statement. WGN News is told Crimo is in Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill. More: 'Complete disregard for human life': Robert Crimo III gets life sentences for deadly Highland Park parade shooting Earlier this week, Crimo was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti handed down seven consecutive sentences of life in prison to Crimo. She also sentenced him to 50 years on each of the 48 counts of attempted murder to be served consecutively to the seven life sentences. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Highland Park Mass Shooter Who Opened Fire on July Fourth Parade, Killing 7, Sentenced to Life in Prison
The Illinois man who opened fire at a Chicago-area July Fourth parade in 2022, killing seven people and wounding 48, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Robert Crimo III, 24, pleaded guilty last month in the mass shooting in Highland Park, about 30 miles outside Chicago. Crimo did not show up for his sentencing hearing and declined to make a statement to the court, NBC reported. 'This court has absolutely no words that could adequately describe and capture the horror and pain that was inflicted on July Fourth,' state circuit judge Victoria Rossetti said in court, according to the outlet. She added that Crimo 'is irretrievably depraved, permanently incorrigible, irreparably corrupt and beyond any rehabilitation.' Liz Turnipseed, who was shot in the pelvis and still struggles with mobility, called Crimo a 'coward' to NBC for hiding from the victims. 'And regardless of whether he was there or not, this was going to happen. I don't need to see his face. I know what he looks like. I watched the videos with the confession. That was enough to see how cavalier he was about murdering seven people,' she said. When prosecutors showed parts of Crimo's lengthy video-taped confession — which defense attorneys tried to have thrown out — it showed a blank-faced Crimo wearing all black slumped in a chair, arms crossed, CNN reported. He said he briefly reconsidered because of a problem with the gun, but he fixed it. Crimo injured 48 people and killed seven, the outlet reported. The youngest person he wounded was 8-year-old Cooper Roberts, who was paralyzed from the waist down. 'I walked up the stairs, jumped on the roof and opened fire,' Crimo said in the video, per the outlet. He said he tried to avoid children but it was unavoidable because of the 'mesh of people' below. Brian Bodden, a Highland Park police officer, said in court that Crimo was calm during questioning, laughing and making jokes, per the outlet. 'He was never serious, no remorse,' Bodden testified. He said Crimo started planning the mass shooting in 2017. 'His intentions were to shoot at people, to kill people,' Bodden said in court, per CNN. Eric Reinhart, Lake County State Attorney, told the court that 83 shots rang out over 40 seconds, according to NBC. "Eighty-three attempts to hurt people, do as much damage as possible. Eighty-three attempts to kill. Eighty-three attempts to reduce light in the world," Rinehart told the court. "He intended to end the happiness he saw around him. "The courtroom was filled with survivors and family members who cried during the testimony, putting their arms around each other, coming to terms with Crimo's sentence, per the outlet. Crimo will serve seven consecutive life terms for the seven people he killed, in addition to another 50-year sentence, to be served consecutively, for attempted murder. He was also hit with 47 more 50-year-terms for attempted murder, which will be served concurrently, NBC reported. "He will not survive his first life sentence," Rinehart said in court, per the outlet. Read the original article on People
Chicago Tribune
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
As dark chapter closes, Highland Park mayor looks to future; ‘It will forever be a part of our lives'
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering spoke on what the future holds for the city after the sentencing of July 4 parade shooter Robert Crimo III, including the plans for a permanent place of remembrance and transitioning in the years ahead from memorials to reflection and service. The city has made a point of drawing a line between the trial of Crimo, who opened fire on the crowd at the 2022 parade killing seven and injuring dozens of others, and any discussion about plans for a place of remembrance, declining questions and requesting thoughtfulness from media outlets. But Thursday afternoon, after the judge handed Crimo a multi-lifetime sentence, a grim chapter of Highland Park's history was closed, and Rotering talked about what tomorrow might look like. This year's July 4 celebration will have a parade, Rotering said during statements shortly after the sentencing, albeit with an altered route. Additional plans were released in February, as well as a notice that there will be no drone or fireworks shows organized by the city. A remembrance is planned for Independence Day morning, and the temporary memorial at the city's Rose Garden will continue to be open to the public. After 'two days of heartbreak,' Rotering expressed pride in the community for supporting one another following the shooting, and thanked the State's Attorney's Office and emergency responders for their work following the 'unbelievably devastating event.' Efforts related to a permanent place of remembrance have been ongoing, with the city organizing a working group several months ago, she said. The city recently engaged a consultant to gather public input about the location, and it has been determined that the primary location will be next to City Hall, where the 2022 parade began and purposefully away from the center of town. Rotering said the Department of Justice Victims of Crime Division advised not putting any memorials 'in people's faces' they would see every day. The selected location will provide, 'peace and quiet to reflect and remember,' she said. Another secondary, subtle recognition of the tragedy is planned for Port Clinton as well, she said. Officials have been gathering feedback from the community about what that will look like, and whether it will include a water feature, an eternal flame or trees planted in recognition of those killed. She emphasized they were 'places of remembrance' for those killed, and the many injured and traumatized by the event. 'It is, in the end, going to be a place for people to reflect and to find solace, hopefully, but also to remember,' Rotering said. It's been almost three years since the shooting, but the victim impact statements made during the sentencing hearing made it clear the emotional wounds caused by the shooting were still fresh for many, even if the physical injuries have healed. Rotering was asked if the July 4 celebration would ever be able to move past the tragedy. 'For those who lived through it, it will forever be a part of our lives,' she said. 'But, I also spoke to one of the next of kin who said, At what point do we move on from a memorial to another way of reflecting and remembering?'' Rotering said city officials have spoken with those in other communities that have faced similar tragedies in search of some insight. They talked about the transition, over time, from memorial ceremonies to days of service and community building, she said. Rotering advocated for expanding the Illinois assault weapons ban — initially passed in 2023, struck down by a federal judge last year, but that remains in effect as the court battle over it continues — arguing it would help 'proactively' protect other communities from the fate suffered by residents of the Highland Park area. One of the victims of the shooting, Ashbey Beasley, has made similar public pushes for gun control, as well as recategorizing mass shootings like the one in Highland Park as domestic terrorism, calling on U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to act. Rotering shared her sentiment, pointing to a quote from a family member of Nicolas Toledo, one of the seven killed the day of the parade. 'He had lived the American dream and died the American nightmare,' Rotering said. 'This is terrorism.' The mayor also pushed back against online criticism that she has taken advantage of the tragedy for political reasons. 'If (they're saying) my motive is to get weapons of war off the streets of this country, and stop other communities from experiencing this kind of devastating pain, I'll own it,' Rotering said. 'Anything else is ridiculous.' The mayor reflected on the changes that have come since the shooting. Locally, firefighters have been given 'stop the bleed' training, which has also been offered to the community to help build 'resiliency.' Rotering recalled how many people, medical professionals and otherwise, had rushed to try and save people's lives immediately following the shooting. There was also the use of drones by law enforcement to survey large gatherings and events to get a view of rooftops and large areas, which she said was previously restricted to only private use.
