The man accused of killing seven and wounding dozens at the Highland Park Fourth of July parade will appear in court today where he is expected to plead guilty and be sentenced.
Sources told Lake and McHenry County Scanner last week that Robert E. Crimo III was expected to enter into a negotiated plea agreement with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office during a court hearing Wednesday morning.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that the case was added to the court call for Wednesday morning for a “change of plea,” ahead of a previously scheduled case management hearing in August.
Rinehart said his office has been in constant contact with the victims and survivors. “They were and remain our first concern,” he said.
The state’s attorney declined to share specifics on the expected plea.
The hearing for Crimo III, 23, of Highwood, is expected to begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
The plea hearing is expected to last much longer than Crimo’s prior court hearings.
Survivors of the shooting and victims’ families are expected to make victim impact statements.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said his office has implemented an operational plan for the hearing.
“That along with the presiding judge’s decorum order, there will be very specific rules in place for the courtroom during the proceeding,” he said last week.
Covelli said extra sheriff’s deputies will be on site for the hearing to ensure order is kept inside and outside of the courtroom.
Crimo III is charged with 21 counts of first-degree murder, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.
Crimo III allegedly opened fire on paradegoers attending the Fourth of July parade near Second Street and Central Avenue in Highland Park on July 4, 2022.
Prosecutors previously said Crimo admitted to “looking down his sights” of his Smith & Wesson M&P 15 semi-automatic rifle before opening fire on the Highland Park crowd.
Crimo told investigators he fired two full 30-round magazines before loading a third 30-round magazine and firing.
Seven people were killed and dozens of others were shot. 83 spent shell casings were recovered at the scene.
Crimo has been held in the Lake County Jail without bond since July 6, 2022.
In February, Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti set Crimo’s trial for February 24, 2025.
The case was previously scheduled for a February 2024 trial after Crimo decided in December to represent himself and demand a speedy trial.
The Lake County Public Defender’s Office was reappointed to the case in January after Crimo backed away from self-representation.