Alleged gunman in Fourth of July parade mass shooting indicted for murder, attempted murder

The person accused of opening hearth on an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago has been indicted by a grand jury on 21 first-degree homicide counts, 48 counts of tried homicide and 48 counts of aggravated battery, representing the seven folks killed and dozens wounded within the assault.

Prosecutors beforehand filed seven homicide prices towards Robert E. Crimo III. They introduced the grand jury’s choice to indict him on 117 felony prices on Wednesday.

Attorneys for the accused haven’t made a proper response but to any of the costs he faces within the July Fourth taking pictures in downtown Highland Park, Ailing. A consultant for the county public defenders workplace, which is representing Crimo, mentioned Wednesday that it doesn’t remark publicly on any circumstances.

Prosecutors have mentioned the 21-year-old admitted to the taking pictures when police arrested him following an hours-long search on July 4.

Below Illinois regulation, prosecutors can ask a grand jury to find out whether or not there’s possible trigger to proceed to trial. Grand jury proceedings aren’t open to the general public and defence attorneys can not cross-examine witnesses.

The a number of first-degree homicide prices allege the accused meant to kill, precipitated demise or nice bodily hurt and took motion with a powerful chance of inflicting demise or nice bodily hurt on the seven individuals who died.

Prosecutors mentioned Wednesday that the 48 tried homicide counts and 48 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm characterize “every sufferer who was struck by a bullet, bullet fragment, or shrapnel.”

“I need to thank regulation enforcement and the prosecutors who introduced proof to the grand jury at this time,” Lake County State’s Lawyer Eric Rinehart mentioned in a press release. “Our investigation continues, and our sufferer specialists are working across the clock to help all these affected by this crime that led to 117 felony counts being filed.”

Younger survivor’s mom speaks out

Authorities have mentioned the wounded vary in age from eight to their 80s, together with an eight-year-old boy who was paralyzed from the waist down when a shot severed his backbone.

In her first public feedback for the reason that taking pictures, the boy’s mom mentioned in a video and written assertion launched Wednesday that the violence her household and others skilled has taught them “to see the unbelievably beneficiant, caring, good and sort spirit that makes up the overwhelming majority of our world.”

Keely Roberts described her son, Cooper Roberts, as “athletic” and “fun-loving” however mentioned he has a protracted highway forward. Cooper was shot within the again. The bullet tore by way of his physique, severely damaging his aorta, liver, esophagus and spinal twine earlier than exiting by way of his chest. Cooper has undergone a number of surgical procedures.

Cooper’s twin brother, Luke, sustained minor accidents from shrapnel, however his mother worries in regards to the influence of seeing his twin so violently injured. She additionally was wounded within the leg.

Roberts mentioned she nonetheless sees a shiny future forward for Cooper and thanked parade-goers who helped the household within the aftermath of the taking pictures, together with well being care suppliers and different first responders.

“He’ll educate an entire lot of people who the lesson in this isn’t that one individual did this horrible factor,” she mentioned. “The lesson in that is that 1000’s of individuals did nice issues, sort issues, and proceed to do sort issues.”

Throughout a court docket listening to presenting the homicide prices, prosecutors mentioned police discovered greater than 80 spent shell casings on the rooftop of a constructing alongside the parade route and the semi-automatic rifle used within the assault on the bottom close by.

Investigators consider the alleged gunman blended in with the fleeing crowd to get away from the scene, then borrowed his mom’s automobile and briefly contemplated a second assault on a celebration in Madison, Wisc., earlier than returning to Illinois the place police arrested him.

Crimo is because of seem in court docket Aug. 3.