ROBERT EUGENE CRIMO III | 4th of July Parade Highland Park Shooter | Charged With 21 Counts Of First-Degree Murder, 48 Counts Of Attempted Murder, And 48 Counts Of Aggravated Battery | Autographed Letter, Signed

(ID#). Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Carol Stream, IL. July 9, 2024. Content unknown. SEALED.

Robert E. Crimo III is known for his involvement in the tragic mass shooting that occurred during an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois, on July 4, 2022. He was charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder and attempted murder following the incident. The case drew significant media attention due to the nature of the crime and the subsequent legal proceedings.

Here’s a summary of the case involving Robert E. Crimo III:

Incident: On July 4, 2022, Robert E. Crimo III carried out a mass shooting during an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois. He used a Smith & Wesson M&P15 rifle, resulting in seven fatalities and 48 injuries.

Legal Proceedings: Crimo III was charged with 21 counts of first-degree murder, 48 counts of attempted murder, and 48 counts of aggravated battery. The trial is scheduled to begin on February 24, 2025. If convicted of first-degree murder, he faces a mandatory sentence of life without parole.

Civil Suits: Victims and their estates filed multiple consolidated lawsuits against Crimo, his father, the gun shops where the rifle was acquired, and Smith & Wesson, the manufacturer. The suits argue that the rifle should not have been sold to civilians and that Smith & Wesson is liable due to the way the weapon was advertised.

Court Decisions: The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois remanded the cases to state court, rejecting the defendants’ attempt to move to federal court. The Seventh Circuit affirmed this decision.

The motive behind the shooting carried out by Robert E. Crimo III during the Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois, has not been conclusively determined. Investigators have interrogated Crimo and reviewed his social media posts but have not found a clear motive for the attack. They have also not found any indication that the shooter targeted anyone by race, religion, or other protected status. Additionally, law enforcement officials have stated that the shooting appears to be completely random and have no information to suggest it was racially motivated, motivated by religion, or by any other protected status.

The specific motivations behind Robert E. Crimo III’s decision to carry out the attack during the Independence Day parade in Highland Park are not fully clear. However, it was reported that after the shooting, Crimo confessed to the authorities and indicated that he had contemplated a second attack in Wisconsin. He had driven to Madison and considered targeting a celebration there but ultimately decided against it because he had not done enough planning.

Robert E. Crimo III’s online presence did not clearly align with any specific radical ideology or extremist views. However, his digital footprint revealed a fascination with violence and some disturbing content:

Online Activity: Crimo was described as an “extremely online creature” who existed in some of the darkest corners of the internet, where graphic violence and mass shooters are often romanticized. His online behavior included posting thousands of times on a gore forum, sharing violent images and videos.

Music and Videos: Under the name “Awake the Rapper,” Crimo made rap music and posted videos that depicted violent scenarios, including shootings. Some of his content was interpreted as glorifying violence.

Extremism Researchers: Experts have cautioned against attaching any specific ideology to Crimo, noting that his online activity cannot be narrowly categorized. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue mentioned that posts allegedly associated with Crimo included mental health issues and a gravitation toward far-right and neo-fascist thoughts, but these were not definitive indicators of radicalization.

There were some warning signs regarding Robert E. Crimo III’s behavior that were reported by friends and family members:

Friends’ Observations: Former classmates described Crimo as a “mysterious and music-obsessed loner” whose music and personality became darker over time. One former friend noted that Crimo was “in his own world,” and there were “a lot of red flags” related to his behavior.

Family Concerns: In September 2019, family members contacted the police, expressing concerns that Crimo was going to “kill everyone.” However, at that time, there was no probable cause to arrest him, and although multiple knives, a sword, and a dagger were confiscated, he did not have firearms.

Behavioral Changes: Crimo’s behavior reportedly changed after a breakup with his girlfriend, leading to depression and a turn towards drugs. His relationship with his parents was also strained, and they struggled financially.

Law Enforcement Interactions: The police were notified in April 2019 after Crimo threatened to take his own life. Despite these incidents, there were no signs that he was capable of the degree of violence he later exhibited.

Despite these signs, Crimo’s uncle stated that the family noticed “no signs of trouble” that would indicate he could be involved in such a violent act.

• VIDEO: Caught on Video: Shooting starts at Highland Park July 4th Parade | https://youtu.be/eBmz8xz0rDo

• VIDEO: Caught on video: Suspect in Highland Park mass shooting arrested | https://youtu.be/kLdGXuBurf0

• VIDEO: What we know about the Highland Park mass shooting | https://youtu.be/-KmkLwetFBw

• VIDEO: Investigation: This is what suspect posted online before the shooting | https://youtu.be/XyskIAKohj0

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