WAUKEGAN, Ill. -- Robert Crimo III, the man responsible for the tragic mass shooting at the 2022 Independence Day parade in Highland Park, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on April 24, 2025. The 24-year-old was handed seven consecutive life sentences for each of the seven individuals he killed, as well as an additional 50 years for 48 counts of attempted murder.
Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti presided over the sentencing, which followed emotional testimonies from survivors and family members of the victims. "This court has absolutely no words that could adequately describe and capture the horror and pain that was inflicted on July 4th," she stated, describing Crimo as "irretrievably depraved, permanently incorrigible, irreparably corrupt and beyond any rehabilitation." Crimo's actions left a community shattered and grieving.
During the chaotic shooting, Crimo fired 83 shots over a span of 40 seconds from the roof of a building, targeting attendees of the parade. The victims ranged in age from an 8-year-old boy who was left paralyzed from the waist down to elderly individuals in their 80s. The deceased were identified as Katherine Goldstein, 64; Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63; Stephen Straus, 88; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; Eduardo Uvaldo, 69; and married couple Kevin McCarthy, 37, and Irina McCarthy, 35.
Crimo's legal journey has been fraught with unpredictability. Just before jury selection was to begin last month, he changed his plea to guilty, admitting to 21 counts of first-degree murder and 48 counts of attempted murder. This plea came as a surprise to many, including his own attorneys.
Despite the gravity of the proceedings, Crimo did not attend the sentencing hearing. His absence was noted as he had previously skipped several court appearances, including crucial moments leading up to his guilty plea. Some survivors expressed their frustration with his decision to avoid the courtroom. Keely Roberts, whose son Cooper was left paralyzed, called Crimo "cowardly" for not attending. "You will not hear my grief," she said, emphasizing that he is now irrelevant to her.
Throughout the hearing, survivors shared harrowing accounts of their experiences during the shooting. Erica Weeder, who was injured and witnessed the chaos, described how the event has altered her life permanently. "A mass shooting is like a bomb blast throughout a community," she stated, highlighting the profound impact on the mental health of those affected.
Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart argued that Crimo was fully aware of his actions during the shooting, referring to it as "his evil plan" to ruin the joy of the celebration. Prosecutors presented evidence, including clips from Crimo's videotaped confession, where he recounted the events leading up to the attack. In the confession, he stated, "I walked up the stairs, jumped on the roof and opened fire," revealing a chilling detachment from the horror he unleashed.
During the testimony, the courtroom was filled with emotion as friends and family of the victims shared their pain. Many described how the shooting changed their lives forever, with some no longer feeling safe in public spaces. Liz Turnipseed, a survivor who was shot during the attack, expressed a sense of relief following the sentencing. She said, "I don't have to think about him anymore, I don't have to worry about him anymore, and me and my husband and my daughter can continue to move forward, and I can continue to heal."
In light of the tragedy, the Highland Park community has shown resilience, with city leaders advocating for changes to gun laws. The shooting prompted Illinois lawmakers to ban assault weapons, a measure that has faced challenges but remains in effect. Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering reiterated the city’s commitment to supporting victims and survivors, stating, "Our support remains steadfast, and we will never forget. This sentencing does not mark the end of our efforts; it strengthens our resolve to push for meaningful change."
The impact of the shooting continues to resonate within the community, as several survivors pursue civil cases against Crimo and the gun manufacturer, Smith & Wesson. The emotional scars left by the incident are deep, with many victims and their families grappling with grief and trauma.
As the legal proceedings conclude, the community reflects on the lives lost and the ongoing journey toward healing. The Highland Park parade, which was canceled in 2023, has since been reinstated with a memorial, symbolizing both remembrance and resilience.
With Crimo now sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars, the families of the victims find a semblance of closure, though true justice remains elusive. As Rinehart poignantly noted, the trauma inflicted by Crimo's actions has created "oceans of pain, trauma, grief and loss" that words cannot fully capture.
The Illinois Department of Corrections will determine where Crimo will serve his sentence, likely transferring him from the Lake County Jail to a state prison shortly after the sentencing.
