CHICAGO (AP) – The man accused of opening fire at an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago has been indicted by a jury on 21 counts of first-degree murder, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated assault, representing the seven people . were killed and dozens injured in the attack on a beloved holiday event.
Prosecutors previously filed seven counts of murder against Robert E. Crimo III. They announced the grand jury’s decision to indict him on 117 felony charges on Wednesday.
Crimo’s attorneys have yet to formally respond to any of the charges he faces in the July 4 shooting in downtown Highland Park, Illinois. A message left with the county public defender’s office Wednesday was not immediately returned.
Prosecutors said Crimo, 21, admitted to the shooting when police arrested him after an hours-long investigation on July 4.
Under Illinois law, prosecutors can ask a grand jury to determine whether there is probable cause to go to trial. Grand jury proceedings are not open to the public and defense attorneys cannot cross-examine witnesses.
The multiple counts of first-degree murder allege that Crimo intended to kill, caused death or great bodily harm and acted with a high likelihood of causing death or great bodily harm to the seven people who died.
Authorities said the more than 30 injured ranged in age from 8 to 80, including an 8-year-old boy who was paralyzed from the waist down when the gunshot severed his spine.
Prosecutors said Monday that the 48 attempted murders and 48 counts of aggravated assault with a firearm represent “each victim struck by a bullet, bullet fragment or shrapnel.”
“I want to thank the law enforcement authorities and prosecutors who presented evidence to the grand jury today,” State’s Attorney Lake Rinehart said in a statement. “Our investigation is ongoing and our victim specialists are working around the clock to support all those affected by this crime which has resulted in 117 offenses being laid today.”
During a court hearing presenting the murder charges, prosecutors said police found more than 80 spent shell casings on the roof of a building along the parade route and the semi-automatic rifle used in the attack on the ground nearby.
Investigators believe Crimo mingled with the fleeing crowd to get away from the scene, then borrowed his mother’s car and briefly contemplated a second attack at a party in Madison, Wisconsin, before returning to Illinois where police arrested him. arrested.
Crimo is scheduled to appear in court on August 3.
