The uncle of Highland Park’s confessed mass shooter, Robert Crimo III, insisted on Friday that his brother “did the right thing” when he helped his son buy guns, although he admitted he would not have done so. same.
“I support him 100%, I think he did the right thing,” Paul Crimo told CNN about his brother, the gunman’s father, Robert Crimo Jr.
The uncle admitted he was “sure” that his brother “knew” that his son had been investigated for threatening to “kill everyone” in 2019, just two months before he backed the shooter’s successful bid to start buying. weapons while he was still just. 19.
The future shooter had confessed to police at the time that he was a depressed drug user and was branded a “clear and present danger”.
However, the father soon sponsored his son’s gun owner’s (FOID) ID card and also recovered 16 knives, a 12-inch dagger and a 24-inch samurai-style sword that the police had confiscated.
Authorities have not ruled out charges against Robert Crimo Jr., the father who sponsored the FOID card of his future mass shooter son that allowed him to buy weapons. Twitter / @CrimoBob
In his interview, Uncle Crimo dismissed the warning signs about his nephew, who shared haunting videos and gun and gun artwork.
Paul Crimo told CNN he “100%” supports his brother for helping his son buy guns, and said, “I think he did the right thing,” even though he “wouldn’t have done it” himself . CNN
“People are recovering quickly … maybe he recovered quickly and was in his state of health at the time,” he said of his nephew and the 2019 threats.
He argued that his brother probably “saw no problem when he signed” the FOID card that allowed his namesake son to start buying weapons, including the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 he used to shoot more than 80 meats during the its local parade on the fourth of July. killing seven and wounding dozens.
However, “if it was me, no, I wouldn’t … I probably wouldn’t have signed it,” said the uncle, puzzled when asked to explain why.
“I think the law needs to be tightened,” he said.
Despite his “100%” support for his brother and total denial of any concern that his nephew owned weapons, Crimo repeatedly blamed Illinois laws for the future shooter’s gun purchase.
“If someone has a life threat, if someone commits suicide or if someone is depressed … the state should see it and not give them a FOID card,” he said of the concerns that justified the his brother ignored.
Police say Robert Crimo III confessed to the July 4 shooting, for which he has been charged with seven counts of first-degree murder.via REUTERS
He noted that his nephew “passed four background checks,” and described it as evidence that he “seemed fit” to own a weapon.
“If he had looked unfit, he would never have gotten the FOID card,” he said, repeating that “laws have to be tougher.”
Authorities have not yet ruled out possible charges against the shooter’s father, who is also facing possible civil liability.
However, he insisted in an exclusive interview with The Post this week that he had “zero” responsibility.
Crimo has been charged with seven counts of first-degree murder, which would result in a mandatory life sentence with no possibility of parole.
Police have warned that the death toll could still rise, with many of the dozens injured in Monday’s mass shooting still in critical condition.
“There will be many, many more charges,” said Lake County State Attorney Eric Rinehart, who pledged to file an attempted murder and aggravated battery charges for each individual that resulted wounded.
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Some of the injured remain hospitalized in critical condition and the death toll could still rise, police warned.
The bad guys react in a memorial place. Getty Images