THE father of the accused Highland Park shooter has revealed the chilling conversation he had with his son hours before the July 4 massacre.
Robert Crimo Jr had spoken to his son about the shooting at the Copenhagen shopping center on Sunday evening. Robert “Bobby” Crimo IIIwho allegedly went on to kill seven people and injure more than two dozen others at a Fourth of July parade the next day.
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Speaking with the New York PostCrimo Jr said he discussed the shooter with Bobby in the Copenhagen incident.
“Yeah, that guy is an idiot,” Crimo Jr recalls Bobby saying about the shooter.
“People think that… [commit mass shootings] to invigorate the people who want to ban all weapons,” he said.
Crimo Jr says the call took place about 13 hours before Highland Park massacre†
“That’s why I think I’m so in shock,” Crimo Jr told the Post.
“Like, was he on a psychiatric break or something?”
‘HE BUYS EVERYTHING HIMSELF’
Crimo Jr, who ran a failed campaign to become mayor of Highland Park, sponsored his son’s application to possess firearms just three months after Bobby threatened to kill members of his family.
Officials have said one of the weapons Bobby bought after receiving his ID card from the owner of the firearm was an AR-15 used in Monday’s mass shooting.
Crimo Jr insisted to the Post that he sponsored the card because he believed his son would use the firearms at a shooting range.
“He bought everything himself and they’re in his name,” the father said of Bobby’s guns.
“You know, he drove over there, he ordered them, he picked them up, they did his background check on each.”
Crimo Jr went on to insist that he was “zero” involved in the mass shooting and has tried to distance himself from his son, according to the Post.
“They make me feel like I prepared him to do all this,” he said of people lashing out at him.
“I’ve been here all my life, and I’ll stay here, hold my head up, ’cause I haven’t done anything wrong.”
‘I WANT A LONG SENSE’
The father has spoken to several media outlets, claiming he is “a caretaker for the house” and not Bobby’s father, according to the Post.
“I want a long sentence,” he said, speaking of the charges against his son.
“That’s life. You know you have consequences for actions.
“He made a choice. He didn’t have to do that.
“I think there’s mental illness, of course…I haven’t seen much of it.”
Of the victims, Crimo Jr said, “I’m speechless.”
“It just surprised me so much. It’s terrible.
“It’s surreal. I mean, essentially I lost a son too. It sucks.”
FAMILY SPEAKS OUT
After hiring a lawyer, Robert Crimo IIIs parents, Crimo Jr. and Denise Pesinabroke their silence at first in a statement Tuesday late.
“We are all mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, and this is a terrible tragedy for many families, the victims, the parade goers, the community and our own,” their attorney Steve Greenberg said.
“Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to everyone.”
Greenberg also stated that the Crimos “request that everyone respect their privacy while trying to sort” [through] this tragedy.”
The day before Greenberg went on a diatribe following the news of the mass shooting.
“This is my hometown where I grew up and raised my kids. WTF is wrong with people. Nobody needs these powerful weapons!!!!!” He wrote.
Greenberg stood by his words when it turned out that his new clients were the suspect’s parents.
“And I support this tweet. No one should own these guns and no one should be allowed to sell them.”
Greenberg is the former lawyer for rapper R Kelly, who… last week sentenced to 30 years in prison†
‘NO WARNING SIGNS’
Paul Crimo recalled seeing his cousin, Bobby, in girls’ clothes about a year before the 22-year-old allegedly fired 70 shots at a crowded parade, but couldn’t understand why.
“I’m shocked… It’s too much to handle,” said Paul from his car – hours after it turned out that a seventh victim had died as a result of the Independence Day shooting in Illinois†
“There were no warning signs† Nothing I’ve seen.”
Paul said he didn’t know why Bobby was dressing as a woman and still doesn’t understand why he would open fire on a crowd of innocent bystanders.
When asked if he had a message for everyone reading, Crimo’s grieving uncle apologized to the families affected.
“I feel sorry for all the families. My thoughts and prayers are with all the families,” he said.
“I am heartbroken for all of them. I will forever be heartbroken.”
Paul Crimo added that he knew Bobby had YouTube and social media accounts, but didn’t know what was on them.
PARADE PANIC
On July 4, shots were fired in Highland Park as families gathered to watch the annual parade.
What started as a celebration of freedom soon became a scene of terror as the sound of gunfire reached the bystanders.
Seven people were killed by a gunman who police say took a sniper position on a nearby rooftop before opening fire on the crowd below.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Robert “Bobby” Crimo III, the 22-year-old who was named a person of interest in the mass shooting and was arrested on July 4 at approximately 7:00 PM local time.
Police discovered a high-powered rifle at the crime scene that was determined to have been legally purchased.
The police reported that Bobby… planned the attack for several weeks and Lake County Major Crime Task Force spokesman Chris Covelli said at a news conference that they believe: he disguised himself as a woman to flee the scene.
He blended in with everyone else as they ran around, almost as if he were an innocent bystander too, Covelli said.
On July 5, 2022, Bobby was charged with seven counts of first degree murder.
Lake County District Attorney Eric Rinehart was the person who announced the charges.
Rinehart expects “dozens” of additional charges against the suspect to follow, he said.
He also called the tragedy a “premeditated and calculated attack.”
“The loss of life and these devastating injuries and the overwhelming psychological trauma require that we seek justice and take broader action to protect life,” he said.
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