Highland Park parade shooter Robert Crimo III changes plea to guilty last-minute
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (WLS) -- Highland Park parade shooter Robert Crimo III changed his plea to "guilty" right before his trial was about to begin at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan on Monday.
The decision was a surprise to many and brought a sense of closure to families of the victims and survivors.
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Last June, the Lake County State's Attorney's Office believed they had a deal for Crimo, 24, to plead guilty. That fell through.
The trial was just minutes from starting on Monday morning when Crimo surprised everyone by entering a guilty plea.
He appeared in court on Monday morning in a dark suit and tie, looking like he was ready for trial.
The gallery was full of survivors of the July 4, 2022 mass shooting. The judge and the attorneys were on the verge of starting that trial, with opening statements set to begin at 9 a.m. But Crimo apparently had no intention of going through with it, instead, changing his plea to guilty moments before.
Judge Victoria Rossetti then asked Crimo a series of questions about this major decision, including asking about any medication he has taken, if he understands the time he will likely be facing if he pleads guilty and if he was forced to enter this plea.
He provided single "yes" and "no" answers in a rather monotone manner.
Rossetti even told Crimo, "You can have a trial; you don't have to do this."
He acknowledged that, but maintained his guilty plea.
"It was a shock to learn he was changing his plea," said Ashbey Beasley. "I think there is a huge collective feeling of relief. Our community wanted justice."
Beasley was at the 2022 Fourth of July parade when Crimo opened fire with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, killing seven people and injuring nearly 50 others. The victims ranged in age from 8 to 88 years old.
"Just knowing this plea has been entered and we will not have to see him again is what we all need," Beasley said.
Prosecutors say they had a mountain of evidence, including DNA, fingerprints, eyewitnesses, video and a confession. They say they were ready for trial and were confident they would win.
"We believe what we were about to present to the jury was absolutely going to convict him," said Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart.
Rinehart said the change in plea was not a result of a plea deal.
"This was not a negotiation. This was not a deal. He made a free decision to plead guilty to every single count that this trial team and this law enforcement team was about to present to this jury. He received nothing in exchange for this plea today."
But now, they will never have to present the case. Crimo's guilty plea to 21 counts of first-degree murder and 48 counts of attempted first-degree murder carry a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no chance for parole.
Crimo's father, who pleaded guilty last year to charges related to helping his son obtain a gun, had nothing to say after court. He later told ABC7 he did not know his son would change his plea.
Crimo's parents left the courthouse shortly after the hearing.
Survivors, Highland Park residents say 'guilty' plea will help them move forward
Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering says the guilty plea will help the community to begin to heal.
"We're all surprised and relieved that they don't have to realize the pain of reliving this experience for the next three to five weeks," Rotering said. "Today's guilty plea is an important step toward justice, but it does not erase the pain."
Residents say while no plea can repair the lives shattered by the event, it does lift a cloud hanging over and allows people to heal.
The normalcy of life bounced back quickly in Highland Park. Yet, emotions two-and-a-half years after the deadly Fourth of July shooting remain raw for some residents.
Iris Morgan and her twin sister attended the parade in 2022.
"It will never be in past. This is where it happened," Morgan said, who became emotional while standing near where the shooting took place.
Chad Zamost worked through his emotions with a song he wrote called "Independence Day."
"I specifically wanted the song not to necessarily be about the shooting itself, but about the feelings that we all had afterwards," Zamost said.
Highland Park residents say Crimo's guilty plea allows them to move forward.
"There will never be full closure, but it's certainly, it's good thing that it's the first step ahead, and people don't have to hear about a trial and watch it every single day on the news," said Highland Park resident Danny Zamost.
"I'm thrilled to death it is over," said North Shore resident Ted Willen.
"It will save the taxpayers a lot of money, time and effort and hopefully we can move on from this in a gentler way," Morgan said.
While the guilty plea helps this community to heal and move on, residents say what will remain is the resilience that came out of the tragedy.
"It really warned warmed my heart and made me very proud to be a resident here," said Highland Park resident and business owner Chloe Mendel Corgan.
Like so many Highland Park residents coming together to help after the mass shooting, Mendel Corgan and her husband, Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, raised money by holding a concert at their tea shop Madame ZuZu's.
"The only way we knew how to help was the music gathering, great food, tea, so we put on a fundraiser," Mendel Corgan said.
Others also put their grief into action. Kitty Brandtner started the nonpartisan organization March Fourth in an effort to reinstate the federal assault weapons ban.
"This is an American epidemic, and it's preventable. So, I know so many amazing folks from this community who have stood up to say, 'no more,'" Brandtner said.
Whether it is publicly fighting for an assault weapons ban or quietly moving on in their own way, Highland Park residents say one thing they have learned from the tragedy is a mass shooting can happen any day or anywhere.
An attorney representing more than 50 of the Highland Park families says lawyers are preparing a civil lawsuit.
A sentencing hearing for Crimo is set for April 23 at 9 a.m. Many of the survivors are expected to read victim impact statements in court at that time.
About the victims
- Katherine Goldstein, 64, of Highland Park
- Irina McCarthy, 35, of Highland Park
- Kevin McCarthy, 37, of Highland Park
- Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63, of Highland Park
- Stephen Straus, 88, of Highland Park
- Nicolas Toledo-Zargoza, 78 of Morelos, Mexico
- Eduardo Uvaldo, 69, of Waukegan
Irina and Kevin McCarthy's 2-year-old son was found wandering alone in the wake of the Monday, and safely reunited with his grandparents.
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