Police said Wednesday that the man accused of killing seven people in Highland Park, Illinois’ July 4th parade, went to Wisconsin following the shooting and “seriously considered” another attack. Authorities claim that Robert Crimo III, 21, has confessed to the murders and gave details in an interview with investigators.
On Wednesday, Lake County Major Crime Task Force Chief Chris Covelli stated to reporters that Crimo had left Illinois’ shooting scene and traveled to Madison where he witnessed another holiday celebration.
Covelli stated that Covelli seriously considered using the firearm in his car to shoot another gun.
Covelli said that he doesn’t have any information suggesting that he intended to drive to Madison to begin another attack. “We believe that he saw the celebrations while driving around after the first attack.”
Covelli stated that it is not clear why the suspect did not carry out another attack. However, he said there are indications that he didn’t do enough research and thought about it. According to authorities, Crimo has been plotting the attack on Highland Park for several weeks.
Covelli stated that it is not clear why Crimo fled Madison to return home to Illinois. He was finally apprehended by a police officer who pulled him over in the mother’s vehicle. He claimed that Crimo had left his phone at Madison and that it has been recovered.
Eric Rinehart, Lake County State’s Attorney, stated that Crimo would be held without bond. At Wednesday’s bond hearing, he also stated that investigators had told him that Crimo fired 30 rounds in a full clip, then reloaded and continued firing.
Crimo was arrested Tuesday on seven counts of first-degree murder. Rinehart announced that if convicted, Crimo would be sentenced to a life imprisonment without parole.
Rinehart stated that he expects “many, much more” charges to be filed. These include an attempted murder charge as well as an aggravated battery with firearm charge for anyone who was injured in the shooting. These charges will be filed in late July, he said.
According to police, at least 45 people were killed or injured in the shooting. The seven victims of the shooting are identified as Katherine Goldstein (64), Kevin McCarthy, 37, Irina McCarthy 35, Jacquelyn Moondheim, Jacquelyn McCarthy, 63, Stephen Straus,88, Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza (78), and Eduardo Uvaldo (69).
Reporting by Jordan Freiman, Alex Sundby
