Robert Crimo III pleaded not guilty to 117 felony charges on Wednesday for allegedly shooting dozens of people, killing seven of them, during the Highland Park Fourth of July parade.
Crimo, 21, of Highwood, is charged with 21 counts of first-degree murder — three counts for each victim.
The seven slain victims include Katherine Goldstein, 64, of Highland Park; Irina McCarthy, 35, of Highland Park; Kevin McCarthy, 37, of Highland Park; Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63, of Highland Park; Stephen Straus, 88, of Highland Park; and Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78, of Morelos, Mexico; and Eduardo Uvaldo, 69, of Waukegan.
Crimo is additionally charged with 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm for each victim who was struck by a bullet, bullet fragment or shrapnel, according to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors presented their case to a Lake County grand jury last week and the jury returned the 117-count indictment.
Crimo appeared in court Wednesday in front of Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti for an arraignment hearing.
Rossetti explained the charges and penalties they carried. She asked Crimo if he understood and he replied “yes” each time.
Crimo pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart previously said that the first-degree murder charges will lead to a mandatory life sentence should Crimo be convicted.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Ben Dillon said during a bond hearing early last month that the ATF conducted an e-trace of the rifle used in the shooting to track it to Crimo and law enforcement officers familiar with Crimo identified him after reviewing surveillance video.
Crimo confessed to the shooting during an interview at the Highland Park Police Department and admitted to dressing up as a woman to disguise himself, Dillon said.
Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said that Crimo pre-planned the attack for several weeks.
Covelli said that Crimo used a fire escape ladder to access the roof of a building on the parade route.
Crimo admitted to “looking down his sights” of his Smith & Wesson M&P 15 semi-automatic rifle before opening fire on the crowd on July 4 near Second Street and Central Avenue in Highland Park.
Crimo said he fired two full 30-round magazines before loading a third 30-round magazine and firing, Dillon said.
83 spent shell casings were recovered at the scene.
Crimo, who was dressed as a woman, exited the roof, dropped the rifle and escaped with the fleeing crowd, according to Covelli.
Crimo identified himself on surveillance video and the weapon used, Dillon said.
Crimo remains held in the Lake County Jail without the possibility of being released on bond.
A case management hearing is scheduled for November 1.