The judge ruled on Monday that the case against father of Highland Park shooter could continue. This decision overruled his attorneys’ arguments arguing that his son cannot be held responsible for killing seven people and injuring another dozen during a Fourth of July parade in 2022.
Lake County Associate Judge George Strickland refused a motion from attorneys of Robert Crimo Jr., 58 years old, to dismiss the charges against him as requested by his attorneys.
Crimo Jr., after sponsoring his 19-year old’s firearm Owners Identification Application (FOID), was charged by a grand jury in February with seven counts of reckless behavior, one for every person that son had killed during the attack.
The prosecution has pointed out that Crimo Jr. signed the document agreeing to be “liable” for any damage resulting from his minor applicant’s misuse of firearms and firearm ammunition.
Crimo Jr.’s attorneys have argued that the judge should dismiss the charges against him, because he approved his son’s purchases years before the shooting. They also claim that The reckless conduct law under which he’s being charged is too vague.
People visit a memorial six days after a mass shooting during the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois for seven of the victims in Port Clinton Square on July 10, 2022.
Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune via Getty Images file
Judge Strickland dismissed these claims on Monday. He noted that, while the state must prove Crimo Jr. acted recklessly, the reckless conduct law itself does not prohibit legal behavior and is, therefore, not too broad.
The judge also ruled Crimo Jr. could still face charges, despite signing the son’s application on December 2019. He argued that the statutes of limitations were valid until July 4, 2025 – three years after the mass shooting.
At the time the grand jury indicted parents who helped their children obtain weapons of war were morally and legally liable if those kids injured others with these weapons.
The judge set Monday the date of the trial for Crimo Jr. for reckless misconduct. His son’s trial, for which he was charged with 117 felonies, and has pleaded not guilty, is not yet scheduled.
Crimo Jr. is a former Highland Park candidate for mayor who has expressed his support for Second Amendment. If convicted, he could face a sentence of up to three years.
The shooter was his son. He was 21 years old when he allegedly climbed onto the roof of a Highland Park Building overlooking the route of the Fourth-of-July parade and began shooting at the crowds. He planned the attack over a period of weeks, and dressed in women’s clothes to hide his facial tattoos.
He was known to have posted violent content on social media, including images of mass shootings .
The shooter admitted to the attack, and considered committing another in Wisconsin.
On Monday, the judge said that he would allow a television camera to be in the courtroom during the entire proceedings. However, he could prevent recording certain evidence or testimony which might be detrimental to the case of the shooter.
The seven victims killed in the shooting are Katherine Goldstein (64), Irina McCarthy (35), Kevin McCarthy (37), Jacquen Sundheim (63) Stephen Straus (88) Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza (78) and Eduardo Uvaldo (69). Twelve other people were injured.
This story is in progress. Please check back often for updates.
Melissa Chan, David K. Li, and Dennis Romero all contributed to the Associated Press.
