The accused Highland Park parade mass shooter for a second time in a row refused to appear at his court hearing Wednesday, with a judge saying his case will proceed without delay.
A status hearing on motions was held in front of Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti around 10:45 a.m. Wednesday.
The hearing lasted five minutes and was held without defendant Robert Crimo III, 23, of Highwood.
Attorneys with the Lake County Public Defender’s Office informed the judge that their client, Crimo III, again declined to be transported from the Lake County Jail to the courtroom and asked that his presence be waived.
Rossetti waived Crimo III’s presence at the hearing.
Assistant Public Defender Anton Trizna said the attorneys previously spoke to Crimo III on Tuesday about his appearance in court.
“We asked the deputy to inquire whether he was going to attend. He declined,” Public Defender Gregory Ticsay told the judge.
Rossetti said she previously advised Crimo III that his failure to appear could result in a trial being held without him and other proceedings still going forward.
The judge asked the attorneys to talk to Crimo III again about the issue and that she would issue a written order to be presented to him regarding the admonishment.
Both sides have filed motions to settle evidentiary and legal issues prior to the trial. Rossetti scheduled a hearing on those motions for November 14.
She said the hearing will continue on that day whether Crimo decides to appear in court or not.
One of the motions was filed by the defense seeking to suppress a portion of the statement Crimo III gave to police on July 4, 2022, and July 5, 2022.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said his office is continuing to prepare for the February 24 trial.
In August, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a motion seeking to admit bank records from Highland Park Bank and Trust.
Those records include new account paperwork and address change forms containing the name, date of birth, addresses, email address, phone number, bank account number and debit card numbers for Crimo III.
The records also contain the monthly checking account statement of Crimo’s bank account for January 2020 through February 2020 reflecting purchases made on his account.
The statement shows a purchase from Buds Gun Shop in the amount of $544.69 on February 10, 2020, which prosecutors said was the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 semi-automatic rifle used in the July 4, 2022, shooting in Highland Park.
Prosecutors said the statement also shows a purchase of $25 from Red Dot Arms in Lake Villa on February 12, 2020. That charge was a processing fee that Crimo paid to pick up the firearm.
In June, Crimo III appeared at the Lake County Courthouse in a wheelchair for a change of plea hearing.
He was charged in July 2022 with 21 counts of first-degree murder, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.
Prosecutors announced in court that Crimo III would be pleading guilty to 55 charges in total.
Those charges included seven counts of first-degree murder — one for each victim killed — as well as 48 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm — representing each victim injured — as part of the negotiated plea agreement.
Prosecutors said the plea meant that Crimo III would be sentenced to mandatory natural life in the Illinois Department of Corrections and would not be eligible for supervised release.
Rossetti asked Crimo III to confirm that the negotiation was what he went over with his attorneys prior to the hearing.
Crimo III stared at the judge and did not speak. Crimo’s two attorneys then leaned over and both spoke to him quietly.
Ticsay told Rossetti that they had spoken to Crimo III previously about the plea.
Ticsay said he did not have a reason for Crimo’s lack of response to the judge’s question.
The judge called a recess and Crimo III and his attorneys went into a private area to speak together.
When the attorneys and Crimo III returned, Crimo III told Rossetti that he did not wish to enter into the plea agreement.
The man is accused of opening 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 III 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 III 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 III has been held in the Lake County Jail without bond since July 6, 2022. A trial is set for February 24.