The man accused of carrying out a horrifying attack at a Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago is finally heading to trial, nearly three years after the tragedy that left seven people dead and many more injured.
Jury selection for Robert Crimo III’s trial kicks off on Monday after multiple delays, partly due to his unpredictable behavior in court. This has left many wondering how the trial will unfold.
The shooting happened during Highland Park’s Independence Day parade in 2022. Witnesses said the gunman opened fire from a rooftop, targeting the crowd below. Panic spread as people ran for safety, leaving behind their belongings in the chaos. In the end, seven people were killed, including a couple who left behind their young child, and dozens were injured — one of them, an 8-year-old boy, was left partially paralyzed.
Highland Park canceled its parade in 2023 out of respect for the victims but brought it back in 2024, honoring those lost with a memorial. Mayor Nancy Rotering has said the community refuses to be defined by this tragedy, though the trauma still lingers. This year’s parade will go on without fireworks as a way to ease those painful memories.
As for the case, Crimo faces a staggering 21 counts of first-degree murder — three charges for each person killed — along with 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery. Prosecutors say they have about 10,000 pages of evidence and hours of video, including a taped confession from Crimo. Despite this, he has pleaded not guilty and turned down a plea deal.
Parts of Crimo’s police interrogation have already been made public in court. His defense team tried to get the video evidence thrown out, claiming his rights were violated, but the court ruled against them. In the footage, officers can be seen repeatedly making sure Crimo understood his Miranda rights.
With jury selection starting and the trial about to begin, the community of Highland Park waits for justice — and hopefully, some measure of closure.
