Lake County Sheriff’s Office: Father of Highland Park Parade Mass Shooter Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanor Reckless Conduct
In a move that could have significant implications for future cases involving mass shooting suspects, Robert Crimo Jr., the father of the man accused of the deadly Fourth of July parade shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, has pleaded guilty to seven counts of misdemeanor reckless conduct. Originally facing seven felony counts, Crimo Jr. reached a deal with prosecutors that includes probation, 60 days in jail, and 100 hours of community service. He is scheduled to begin serving his sentence on November 15.
Prosecutors allege that Crimo Jr. was criminally reckless when he signed his son’s application for an Illinois Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card three years before the massacre took place. In Illinois, individuals under the age of 21 require a guardian to sign their FOID card application. The guilty plea may act as a precedent for holding parents legally responsible for the actions of their children in mass shooting cases.
Crimo Jr.’s son, Robert “Bobby” E. Crimo III, who was 21 at the time of the Highland Park shooting, is facing charges of first-degree murder. It is alleged that he fired over 70 rounds from a rooftop during the parade, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals. Crimo III has pleaded not guilty to 117 criminal charges, including 21 counts of first-degree murder.
Crimo Jr.’s decision to plead guilty was heavily influenced by concern for his son’s right to a fair trial. His attorney, George Gomez, stated that if the reckless conduct case had gone to trial, potentially sensitive evidence would have been disclosed publicly, compromising his son’s defense. Additionally, Crimo Jr. did not want his family to be torn apart further in the public eye or subject the Highland Park community to relive the tragedy through a trial.
It was revealed that Crimo Jr. sponsored his son’s gun license application in 2019, despite prior reports of concerning behavior displayed by his son. Police responded to incidents involving the younger Crimo, including an attempted suicide with a machete and threats to kill family members. However, the father disputed some details of these incidents, and the police did not take further action.
Crimo III went on to purchase five guns, including two rifles, after the police incidents. The rifle used in the parade shooting was obtained legally. The case echoes similar situations where parents were charged in connection to their children’s mass shootings, such as the parents of the Oxford High School shooting suspect in Michigan. The parents of Ethan Crumbley face charges of involuntary manslaughter for buying their son the gun used in the attack.
Furthermore, lawsuits have been filed against the parents of the Buffalo grocery store shooter in New York. The plaintiffs argue that the parents failed to intervene or limit their son’s access to firearms despite knowledge of his mental health issues. The shooter, Payton S. Gendron, was sentenced to life in prison for killing 10 people.
The outcome of Crimo Jr.’s case and the ongoing discussions surrounding parental responsibility in mass shooting cases may shape future legal precedents in holding parents accountable for their children’s actions.
