The father of the man charged in the Highland Park, Illinois mass shooting has pleaded guilty to misdemeanors related to helping his son acquire a firearm license. This development marks a significant turn in the case that stemmed from a tragic event on July 4, 2022
Robert Crimo Jr. has pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct for assisting his son, Robert Crimo III, with obtaining a Firearm Ownership Identification Card (FOID) in 2019. This card is a legal requirement in Illinois for purchasing firearms, including the type used in the Highland Park parade shooting. Despite Crimo III’s history of attempting suicide and threatening to kill his family, Crimo Jr. signed his son’s application because, at 19, he was under the age of 21, and needed a parent’s permission for a gun.
As a result of the plea agreement, Crimo Jr. is to serve a 60-day jail sentence and will undergo two years of probation. Additionally, he is mandated to complete 100 hours of community service, forfeit his firearm owner’s identification card, and surrender any weapons in his possession.
The decision for a plea deal by Crimo Jr. came as his trial was about to begin. It also aims to prevent any potential influence on his son’s upcoming murder trial. Prosecutors had accused him of ignoring clear warning signs that his son posed a danger, referencing previous violent and suicidal threats made by his son.
Each of the misdemeanor reckless conduct counts to which Crimo Jr. pleaded guilty corresponds to one of the seven people killed in the mass shooting. His son used an AR-15-style rifle, which he was able to purchase with the gun license in question, to carry out the attack during the parade.
The state attorney emphasized that the actions of Crimo Jr. demonstrated a reckless disregard for public safety by enabling his son, who had a history of troubling behavior, to access firearms. The repercussions of these actions led to a devastating outcome, affecting numerous families and the wider community.