Highland Park shooting suspect’s father pleads guilty to helping son get gun license
The father of the man accused of gunning down seven people during a July 4 parade last year in Illinois pleaded guilty to helping his son get a gun license despite glaring warning signs.
Robert Crimo Jr. pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanors Monday in Lake County court in Illinois and was quickly sentenced to 60 days behind bars beginning next week.
He was initially charged with seven reckless endangerment felonies after Robert Crimo III allegedly opened fire during the 2022 Independence Day parade in Highland Park.
Crimo Jr. helped his son obtain a gun license in 2019 even after a relative told police months before that the then 19-year-old had a cache of knives and threatened to “kill everyone” in the home, authorities previously said.
As a result, a sword, dagger and 15 knives were temporarily confiscated from the suspected mass shooter’s home.
State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said Monday the father also knew his son conveyed suicidal thoughts before helping his get the license.
“It was 2 1/2 years later,” he told reporters, referring to the time between the gun application and the mass shooting, “but he was still reckless — he was criminally reckless — the moment he submitted that affidavit.”
Crimo Jr., in an exclusive interview with The Post days after the mass shooting, insisted he did nothing wrong leading up to the massacre.
“They make me like I groomed him to do all this,” he said of critics. “I’ve been here my whole life, and I’m gonna stay here, hold my head up high, because I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Crimo Jr’s defense lawyer George Gomez said Monday Crimo Jr. pleaded guilty to reckless conduct misdemeanors so Highland Park residents didn’t need to relive “these tragic events” and to make sure the younger Crimo gets a fair trial.
His client is afraid evidence of the shooting that might air during his trial could hurt Crimo III’s legal case, Gomez claimed.
“Mr. Crimo ultimately did not want his family to be more torn apart upon the public stage than it already is,” Gomez said.
Crimo III faces 21 first-degree murder counts, 48 attempted murder counts and another 48 counts of aggravated battery.
His trial date has not been set.
He allegedly confessed to being the depraved gunman just hours after his arrest, prosecutors have said.
With Post wires
