The daddy of the Highland Park, Illinois, parade taking pictures suspect has been charged in reference to serving to his son get hold of a firearm and ammunition, officers introduced Friday.
Robert E. Crimo Jr. was charged with seven counts of reckless conduct, one for every particular person killed within the July Fourth parade assault, Lake County State’s Legal professional Eric Rinehart mentioned.
Prosecutors mentioned Crimo Jr. helped his son, Robert E. Crimo III, buy the AR-15-style weapon used within the taking pictures by sponsoring his son’s Firearm Homeowners Identification (FOID) software.
The taking pictures suspect was 21 on the time of the assault however 19 when he purchased the semiautomatic rifle and ammunition, they mentioned. Authorities have mentioned he sponsored the applying regardless of earlier threats by his son to hurt himself and family members.
Beneath state regulation, gun purchasers 18 to twenty typically should have a mother or father endorse the purchase, prosecutors mentioned.
“He knew what he knew, and he signed the shape anyway,” Rinehart mentioned at a information convention Friday. “This was criminally reckless.”
An legal professional for Crimo Jr., George M. Gomez, mentioned in an announcement that the fees are baseless.
“This determination ought to alarm each single mother or father in the US of America who in keeping with the Lake County State’s Legal professional is aware of precisely what’s going on with their 19 12 months previous grownup kids and may be held criminally chargeable for actions taken practically three years later,” Gomez mentioned. “These expenses are absurd and we’ll battle them each step of the way in which.”
Crimo Jr. turned himself in to Highland Park police Friday afternoon. Following a listening to Saturday, he was launched on a $50,000 money bond. He should abide by a curfew, give up all firearms in addition to his FOID card, and can’t buy new weapons.
The elder Crimo beforehand spoke to the New York Publish concerning his son’s buy.
“He purchased all the things on his personal, and so they’re registered to him,” the daddy mentioned. “They make me like I groomed him to do all this.”
Crimo Jr. faces as much as a three-year sentence if convicted.
Authorities allege the taking pictures suspect climbed to the highest of a Highland Park constructing, used that elevated spot as a sniper’s nest, and opened fireplace on individuals attending the city’s July Fourth parade.
Together with the seven killed, a dozen extra individuals had been injured.
Beneath the acquisition affidavit signed by the daddy, Crimo Jr. agreed to be “chargeable for any damages ensuing from the minor applicant’s use of firearms or firearm ammunition,” authorities have famous.
Crimo Jr. is a former Highland Park mayoral candidate who has voiced assist for Second Modification protections.
He co-signed that FOID software in December 2019, three months after police visited the household’s dwelling. A relative reported that Crimo had threatened to kill members of the family, Illinois State Police have mentioned.
A grand jury indicted the taking pictures suspect in July on 117 expenses, together with 21 counts of first-degree homicide, 48 counts of tried homicide and 48 counts of aggravated battery. He has pleaded not responsible to the fees.
Minyvonne Burke contributed.
