CHICAGO (CBS) — The Highland Park 4th of July Shooting Suspect Parade appeared in Lake County District Court on Wednesday, where a judge ruled on two issues involving evidence identifying the suspect and a video confession.
The suspect, Robert Crimo III, did facing seven counts of first-degree murder and dozens of other charges related to the 2022 mass shooting. He has been in custody at the Lake County Jail since his indictment.
Videotaped confession statement
On Wednesday, Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti ruled that the use of the suspect’s videotaped confession is admissible. She read transcripts of recorded conversations where the suspect spoke with investigators.
The judge ruled that the suspect’s right to an attorney was not denied. She said the defendant was well informed of his rights but chose to continue making confessional statements.
Transcripts read during the hearing show that investigators continually asked Crimo if he wanted to make a phone call or talk to an attorney. The suspect has continually rejected the offers.
Parts of his videotaped confession were previously played in court. The defense argued that an attorney hired by the suspected shooter’s father was not allowed in the room when the confession was made, but the state showed that the suspect could be heard on the confession video refusing to speak to that attorney – who was waiting in the confession. lobby.
The attorney also signed several Miranda rights waivers during a two-day interview.
Crimo will next appear in court on January 9, 2025 at 11 a.m.
Resources Officer Identification Decision
The suspect’s former school cop who interacted with the accused shooter in middle school and high school — Highland Park Police Sgt. Brian Soldano – identified him in photos from the scene on July 4, 2022.
On Wednesday, Rossetti ruled that the resource officer could correctly identify the suspect in this case. Rossetti said the resource officer was able to accurately identify the suspect in this case because he had known the suspect for six years.
Soldano gave testimony about two meetings with Crimo in 2014 and 2015 over disciplinary issues. Prosecutors then introduced photos and videos of the accused gunman walking up a ramp just before the shooting and running down it soon after. Soldano said the person in the photos and videos was Crimo.
The defense initially said the police sergeant did not know the suspect well enough to identify him.
Based on the judge’s ruling, Soldano can testify at the trial, which is currently scheduled for February 2025.
Suspect rejects settlement
Prosecutors had offered Crimo a plea deal finding him guilty of 55 charges, including seven counts of murder and only 48 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm. Under the plea agreement, the accused gunman would have been sentenced to life in prison.
In June, Crimo rejected the plea deal.
The victims in the attack on the Independence Day parade were 64-year-old Katherine Goldstein of Highland Park; 35-year-old Irina McCarthy, of Highland Park; Kevin McCarthy, 37, of Highland Park; 63-year-old Jacquelyn Sundheim, of Highland Park; 88-year-old Stephen Straus, of Highland Park; 78 years old Nicolas Toledo-Zaragozafrom Morelos, Mexico; and 69-year-old Eduardo Uvaldo, of Waukegan.
A total of 48 people were also injured in the shooting. Was among them Cooper Robertsthen 8, who remained paralyzed from the waist down.
