In a twist of events involving the Highland Park Fourth of July parade shooting case, Robert Crimo III, the man accused of killing seven people and injuring dozens more in the 2022 attack, is scheduled for a court appearance next week that could see a change in his not-guilty plea.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart announced on Friday that Crimo will return to court on June 26 for a “possible change of plea.” This hearing comes just days before the second anniversary of the tragic event that shook the suburban Chicago community.
Crimo, 23, was initially set to face trial in February 2024 on numerous charges, including multiple counts of murder and attempted murder. The potential plea change could dramatically alter the course of the legal proceedings.
“We have been updating and supporting the victims as the situation has been developing,” Rinehart stated, emphasizing the ongoing communication with those affected by the shooting.
While the public defender’s office representing Crimo has not yet commented on the upcoming hearing, an attorney representing three wounded family members revealed that prosecutors have indicated Crimo is expected to change at least part of his earlier not-guilty plea to guilty.
Mike Bonamarte, representing the Kolpack family in a civil suit against Crimo, his father, and gun manufacturers, shared that his client’s primary concern is whether a plea change would result in a life sentence for the accused.
“What Zoe said to me is she’ll feel better if she believes this is a step closer to some justice,” Bonamarte relayed, referring to one of his clients. “But it doesn’t change the fact she’s going to deal with what happened for the rest of her life.”
Authorities have stated that Crimo confessed to the shooting in the days following the attack, during which he opened fire from a rooftop onto the parade route, causing widespread panic and devastation.
The case has progressed slowly due to the extensive evidence, including video footage, that required a thorough review. In December, Crimo briefly attempted to dismiss his public defenders and represent himself, but later reversed this decision.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Crimo faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole.
The case has also implicated Crimo’s father, Robert Crimo Jr., who pleaded guilty last year to seven misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct for sponsoring his son’s firearm owner’s identification card application in 2019, despite prior concerns about his son’s behavior.
As the community of Highland Park continues to heal from the trauma of the 2022 Fourth of July attack, this potential plea change represents a significant moment in the pursuit of justice for the victims and their families.
