Newsman: A seventh victim died Tuesday from injuries sustained in Highland Park shooting on 4th July Monday. Seven people were killed and at least 38 people were injured as of Tuesday, according to the authority. Jacki Sundheim; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; Stephen Straus, 88, and Katherine Goldstein, 64, have been identified as victims of the massacre, as well as Irina McCarthy, 35, and Kevin McCarthy, 37, whose 2-year-old son, Aiden McCarthy, survived the attack.
The shooting suspect Robert “Bobby” Crimo III has been charged with seven counts of first-degree murder.
Surrounded by state, local and federal law enforcement officials at a news conference Tuesday evening Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart announces 7 counts of first-degree murder filed against Robert E. “Bobby” Crimo III for the mass shooting .
“We will seek the maximum sentence against this offender. Not because we seek vengeance, but because justice and the healing process demand it,” the state attorney added. and he will request a judge to hold the alleged gunman while the investigation continues.
“These are the first of many charges that will be filed against Mr. Crimo,” Rinehart told reporters.
He added that he expects dozens more charges to be filed against Crimo.
If convicted, Crimo would face a mandatory life sentence without parole, Rinehart said.
During a Tuesday afternoon news conference, Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek told reporters “We have also been notified that there is a 7th victim that died at a hospital located outside of Lake County.”
Authorities believe the massacre had been planned for weeks, and they say more than 70 rounds were fired from the gunman’s high-powered rifle, which was similar to an AR-15.
It appears Crimo bought the rifle legally in Illinois, police said. Crimo bought five guns overall, including two rifles, over the last year or so, according to Police. The suspect passed four background checks when purchasing firearms, state police said — in June 2020, twice in July 2020 and in September 2021. The only offense included in his criminal record “was an ordinance violation in January 2016 for possession of tobacco,” state police said, adding that they have “no mental health prohibitor reports submitted by health care facilities or personnel.”
Police said Crimo wore women’s clothing during the shooting to apparently allow him to hide his facial tattoos and blend in with the crowd to flee.
“Following the attack, Crimo exited the roof, he dropped his rifle and he blended in with the crowd and he escaped,” police said Tuesday. “He walked to his mother’s home, who lived in the area, and he blended right in with everybody else.”
Police said they are looking to talk to a witness who is believed to have seen Crimo drop the rifle behind a red blanket immediately after the shooting.
No motive is known, police said. When asked by reporters if the gunman targeted anyone specifically, police said the “shooting appears to be completely random.”
