Highland Park Shooting Suspect Bobby Crimo Indicted on 117 Counts

21-year-old suspect faces 21 counts of first degree murder, three for each person killed in the July 4th attack

By Edward Era Barbacena

Highland Park mass shooting suspect Robert “Bobby” Crimo III was indicted on 117 counts stemming from the tragic July 4th shooting, including 21 counts of first degree murder.

On Thursday, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office revealed that a grand jury indicted Crimo on all 117 counts, ranging from the 21 first degree murder charges (three for each of the seven people killed during the 4th of July attack) to 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm for each victim who was struck by a bullet, bullet fragment, or shrapnel.

“I want to thank law enforcement and the prosecutors who presented evidence to the grand jury today,” State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said in a statement. “Our investigation continues, and our victim specialists are working around the clock to support all those affected by this crime that led to 117 felony counts being filed today.” Crimo is scheduled to be arraigned on the 117 charges on August 3.

Crimo allegedly confessed to carrying out the July 4 mass shooting in Chicago’s Highland Park neighborhood, a prosecutor said at Crimo’s first court hearing Wednesday, July 6.

At the hearing, during which a judge ruled that Crimo would be held without bond, Assistant State Attorney Ben Dillon said the 21-year-old made “a voluntary statement confessing to his actions.” Crimo is accused of killing at least seven people, allegedly firing over 80 shots as a crowd gathered for an annual Independence Day parade. 

Crimo, who was present during Wednesday’s hearing, is currently facing seven counts of first-degree murder, though more charges are expected to be brought against him, including attempted murder and aggravated battery (if convicted on just the murder charges, Crimo would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole). Crimo has not yet entered a plea. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for July 28. 

Also during the hearing, Crimo was paired with a public defender after surprising the judge when he said he did not yet have a lawyer. Per CBS News, Crimo’s family had originally hired defense attorney Tom Durkin, but Durkin said he had to drop Crimo’s case because of a conflict of interest. Crimo and his public defender, Gregory Ticsay, were allowed to speak in a breakout room during today’s virtual hearing. 

When reached for comment, the Lake County Public Defender’s Office said it would make no comment at this time.