One of America’s most beloved holiday traditions succumbed to another American tradition: mass shootings.
The scene: Independence Day around 10:00 a.m. local time in Highland Park, Illinois, roughly 25 miles from the heart of Chicago. A parade to celebrate the nation’s birthday is interrupted when a shooter opens fire on the crowd, injuring at least two dozen people, and taking the lives of seven.
After a frenzied manhunt, authorities quickly closed in on 21-year-old Robert “Bobby” E. Crimo III. He was identified as a person of interest thanks to a DNA analysis of the “AR-15 style” rifle that was left behind after being used in the shooting. An all point bulletin was placed on a Honda Fit that he was driving, and he was soon apprehended. According to reports, the weapon, which was legally purchased, fired off 70 shots.
A sweep of his online profile showed various postings of violent imagery and allusions to dark behavior in his lyrics as his alter ego Awake the Rapper. Authorities also indicated that Crimo planned the attack for weeks, and even donned women’s clothing to conceal his identity as he left the scene.
As of deadline, Crimo has been charged with seven counts of first-degree murder. However, more charges are certainly expected, such as attempted murder and so on. If convicted on just the murder charge, he faces a mandatory life sentence with no parole. That is just under Illinois law, as FBI Director Christopher Wray has said that federal charges could also be tacked on.
“Jill and I are shocked by the senseless gun violence that has yet again brought grief to an American community on this Independence Day,” President Biden said in response. “As always, we are grateful for the first responders and law enforcement on the scene. I have spoken to Governor Pritzker and Mayor Rotering, and have offered the full support of the Federal government to their communities.
“I recently signed the first major bipartisan gun reform legislation in almost thirty years into law, which includes actions that will save lives. But there is much more work to do, and I’m not going to give up fighting the epidemic of gun violence.”
Authorities have also indicated that Crimo confessed to the crime, and also “considered” another shooting in Madison, WI, but decided against it due to a lack of research. He then made his way back to Illinois. In 2019, police were called to Crimo’s home and seized several bladed weapons after he made threats “to kill everyone.” Because no charges were filed, Crimo was excluded from the state’s red flag legislation, which would have barred him from legally obtaining a firearm.
This was not the only sad incident on the Fourth of July, as police officers were shot during an event in Philadelphia.
