An Illinois judge sentenced 24-year-old Robert Crimo III to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2022 Highland Park Independence Day parade mass shooting that left seven people dead and over 40 injured.
Crimo pleaded guilty in March to seven counts of first-degree murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery just before his trial was set to begin. On Thursday, Lake County Circuit Court Judge Victoria Rossetti handed down seven consecutive life sentences.
“This court hopes this sentence brings a sense of justice and an end to the continued horror,” Judge Rossetti said.
Crimo climbed onto a rooftop in downtown Highland Park, a suburb north of Chicago, during the July 4th parade and opened fire on the crowd. His victims included a beloved synagogue teacher, a grandfather visiting from Mexico, and the parents of a young child. Prosecutors said Crimo later confessed to the shooting.
The sentencing brings closure to a tragedy that stunned the community and the nation, highlighting the ongoing toll of mass shootings in America.
