The alleged man who opened fire at a July 4th parade in Highland Park, Illinois, faces seven first-degree murder charges, the Lake County State Attorney announced Tuesday night , Eric Rinehart.
“What should have been a celebration of freedom has ended the despair for our community. All the people who died within walking distance of here lost their freedom, all,” he told a crowd gathered not far from the crime scene.
Rinehart said more charges will follow, but only the seven charges will keep the suspect in jail for life with no possibility of parole if convicted.
Police allege the man fired more than 70 cartridges with an AR-15-style pistol from the top of a commercial building at a crowd gathered for a parade Monday, killing seven people, then dodged the initial capture by dressing up in disguise and mingling with the fleeing crowd. .
More than 45 people were killed or injured in the attack, including one that died Tuesday, according to Lake County task force spokesman Christopher Covelli.
Police allege that after the shooting, the suspect dropped his rifle and escaped, mingling with the crowd as if he were an “innocent spectator,” dressed as a woman to hide his facial tattoos. He walked to his mother’s house and borrowed the car, according to police.
A police officer arrested the suspect about eight miles north of the shooting scene several hours after police posted his photo and warned he was probably armed and dangerous, the Highland Park police chief said. , Lou Jogmen.
MIRAR | History of mental health problems, police say:
Police are aware of previous mental health incidents with a shooting suspect
The Highland Park police department describes two separate incidents in 2019 in which they became aware of the alleged gunman’s suicidal and potentially violent intentions in the mass shooting at an Independence Day parade in the Chicago suburbs.
At one of two press conferences held Tuesday, police said they had previously had two previous encounters with the suspect, Robert E. Crimo III. In April 2019, police were notified that they had attempted suicide. That September, a family member reported to police that Crimo had said he was going to “kill everyone” and that he had a collection of knives, Covelli said.
Police pulled 16 knives, a dagger and a sword from Crimo’s house. “At the time, there was no probable cause for arrest,” Covelli said.
Law enforcement officials are gathering data and evidence along Central Avenue on Tuesday. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune / The Associated Press)
Crimo is believed to have legally bought weapons after that encounter, Covelli added.
Crimo, whose name is Bobby, was an aspiring rapper with the stage name Awake the Rapper, posting dozens of videos and songs on social media, some sinister and violent.
In an animated video since YouTube removed him, Crimo talks about armies “walking in the dark” as a drawing of a man pointing a rifle, a body on the ground and another figure with his hands up in the distance appears .
“It’s common now”
The features of the parade were initially confused with fireworks before hundreds of panicked partygoers fled in terror.
A day later, baby strollers, lawn chairs and other items left by those in attendance at the panic parade were left within a wide police perimeter. Outside the police tape, some residents went to pick up blankets and chairs they had left behind.
The July 4 shooting was the last to break the rituals of American life. Schools, churches, grocery stores and now community parades have become death grounds in recent months. This time, the bloodshed came when the nation was trying to find reasons to celebrate its founding and the bonds that still hold it together.
MIRAR | The weapon was bought legally, police say:
According to police, an alleged gunman planned an attack for weeks
The alleged gunman spent weeks planning a mass shooting at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois, and dressed as a woman to avoid being identified, police said Tuesday.
“It’s common now,” resident Ron Tuazon said as he and a friend returned to the parade route Monday evening to retrieve chairs, blankets and a children’s bicycle that he and his family abandoned when the shooting began.
“Let’s not blink anymore. Until the laws change, it will be more of the same.”
U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff until Saturday as a “mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of armed violence perpetrated on our Independence Day.”
Most victims identified
The shooting occurred at a point along the parade route where many residents had located privileged views in the early hours of the day for the annual celebration. Police on Tuesday announced the names of six of the murdered victims. Most of them lived in Highland Park.
The list included Jacki Sundheim, a lifelong congregant and member of the “beloved” staff of the nearby North Shore Congregation Israel, who announced her death on her website. She was 63 years old.
Nicolas Toledo, left, and Jacki Sundheim are among the victims who died in the shooting. (Xochil Toledo / GoFundMe, NSCI.org)
Nicolas Toledo, who was visiting his family in Illinois from Mexico, was also killed. He died at the scene, his granddaughter, Xochil Toledo, told the Chicago Sun-Times. He was 78 years old.
Since the beginning of the year, there have been 15 shootings in which four or more people have been killed, including in Highland Park, according to The Associated Press / USA TODAY / Northeastern University Mass Killing database.
Shots fired amid fireworks in Philadelphia
Shots were also sounded during a July 4th fireworks show in Philadelphia on Monday.
Two Philadelphia police officers working at the event in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art suffered scraping injuries. The shooting occurred hours after the shooting in Illinois.
Witnesses in Philadelphia said they saw some people run over or beaten while others tried to flee the crowded crowd. No serious injuries were reported, although many people said they had scratches and bruises.
Investigators have not yet determined where the shots came from or how many were fired. It is also unclear if anyone intentionally fired at officers or if the shots possibly came from someone shooting with a gun to celebrate the party. There have been no arrests.