Highland Park Shooter Sentenced to Life Without Parole

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — A man responsible for the Fourth of July parade shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, received a life sentence without the possibility of parole on Thursday. Robert “Bobby” Crimo III, now 24, was absent from the courtroom during his sentencing, where he had faced charges for killing seven people and injuring nearly 50 in 2022.

Judge Victoria Rossetti described Crimo as “irretrievably depraved” while handing down the maximum sentence, stating he is “beyond any rehabilitation.” His attorney reported that Crimo chose not to speak during the hearing.

The shooting occurred on July 4, 2022, when Crimo fired a semi-automatic rifle into a crowd of parade-goers in the Chicago suburb. The victims included individuals aged 88 to just an eight-year-old boy, who was left paralyzed.

Following emotional testimonies from survivors and families of victims, State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart addressed the court, emphasizing the extensive grief and trauma experienced by the community. Rinehart said, “In the middle of that joy, 83 shots rang out over 40 seconds, each shot an attempt to hurt people.”

Among those killed were Stephen Straus, 88; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; and Katherine Goldstein, 64. Relatives of the victims expressed their heartache while recounting memories of their loved ones.

Liz Turnipseed, a survivor who was shot in her pelvis, condemned Crimo’s absence from the courtroom, labeling him a “coward.” She mentioned that she didn’t need to see him, as she was aware of his demeanor from recorded confessions.

Crimo initially pleaded not guilty to charges, later changing his plea in March 2023 to guilty, admitting to multiple counts of murder and attempted murder. Following a manhunt, police apprehended him shortly after the attack.

The emotional hearing featured several witnesses who shared their long-lasting struggles with trauma stemming from the mass shooting. One survivor described how the fear from that day still lingers in their lives.

In delivering the final remarks, Judge Rossetti expressed the court’s inability to fully capture the horror of that day through words, stating, “This court has absolutely no words that could adequately describe and capture the horror and pain.”