Sentencing for Highland Park parade shooter set for Wednesday

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. - Robert Crimo III, who pleaded guilty to killing seven people and injuring dozens more during Highland Park’s 2022 Fourth of July parade, will be sentenced Wednesday morning—nearly three years after the mass shooting that devastated the community.

What we know:

Crimo was set to stand trial earlier this year but changed his plea to ‘guilty’ on March 3—the first day of proceedings. A jury had already been seated, and dozens of witnesses were prepared to testify before the court.

During the parade attack, seven people lost their lives and 48 others were injured. Crimo admitted to all 69 counts against him, which include first-degree murder and attempted murder charges.

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Robert Crimo III pleads guilty in Highland Park parade shooting

Robert Crimo III, charged in the 2022 Highland Park Fourth of July parade shooting, pleaded guilty on all counts Monday morning.

He is expected to spend the rest of his life in prison, but his sentencing hearing marks the first and only opportunity for many of the victims and their loved ones to address the court—and in this case, Crimo directly.

The hearing, which is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, will include victim impact statements that could take several hours—potentially extending the proceeding into Thursday.

Not all victims plan to speak, but some survivors and family members of the victims will be sharing their experiences.

"It’s perhaps the sentence that’s ending a horrible chapter, but it’s not the end of the story by any means," said Mike Bonamarte, managing partner at Levin & Perconti. "This is just not something you ever get over, that you ever forget."

What's next:

Some of the victims’ families are pursuing a civil lawsuit against Smith & Wesson, the manufacturer of the firearm used in the attack.

Bonamarte, an attorney for some of the victims, said the sentencing marks progress toward closure—but many more steps will need to follow.

"The shooter is going to be sentenced tomorrow, but the system that armed the shooter with the weapon is still walking free, and we’re coming for them next," Bonamarte said. "Hopefully, this can help bring about change at a national level. I grew up in Highland Park, I walked that parade as a kid and it’s not just an attack on a crowd, it’s an attack on a community and a community that I love, and we’re going to see this through."

Meanwhile, discussions continue in Highland Park about how to thoughtfully honor the seven people killed in the attack. A meeting to review and advance plans for a permanent memorial is scheduled for 7 p.m. on July 16 at Highland Park City Hall.

Currently, the victims are being honored in a temporary memorial in the Rose Garden adjacent to City Hall.