Man charged in Fourth of July parade shooting in Chicago suburb planning to represent himself
Waukegan, Ill. — The man accused of killing seven people at a July Fourth parade in suburban Chicago last year fired his public defenders on Monday and said he plans to represent himself at trial, slated to start in February.
Robert Crimo III is charged with 21 counts of first-degree murder, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery for the shooting in Highland Park, Illinois. Dozens, including children, were injured.
Several times, Judge Victoria Rossetti asked if Crimo understood the possible penalties — including consecutive life sentences — if a jury finds him guilty. She suggested he reconsider his choice to represent himself.
Crimo — a 23-year-old man with straight dark hair past his shoulders, wearing a jail uniform — answered that he understood. The judge asked Crimo if he had any legal education, and he said he had once been an observer in court. In response to the judge’s questioning, Crimo said high school is the highest level of schooling he attained.
Rossetti explained he would be responsible for all aspects of his defense, including filing motions, subpoenaing witnesses, and making opening and closing statements. Crimo agreed.
“You will be representing yourself,” Rossetti finally said, before granting Crimo’s request to schedule his trial as quickly as possible, in February 2024 rather than February 2025 as his original defense team had discussed with prosecutors.
Attorneys and Rossetti have repeatedly discussed the enormous amount of records and other material tied to the case, including about 10,000 pages of material the state’s attorney’s office has turned over to Crimo’s defense.
Public defenders Greg Ticsay and Anton Trizna, who represented Crimo until Monday, declined to comment.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart, whose office will be prosecuting the case, said in an emailed statement following Monday’s court hearing that “prosecutors on this case have been working tirelessly since July 4, 2022, and will be ready for trial on the set date. Our victim specialists have been in constant communication with the victims and their families throughout the case and will continue to do so.”