CHICAGO – The father of the gunman accused of fatally shooting seven people at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, has been charged with seven counts of felony reckless conduct.
Robert Crimo, Jr. took a “reckless and unjustified risk” when he signed the application for his son’s firearm owners ID card in December of 2019, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said in a press conference.
At the time, Crimo’s son was 19 and could not obtain a FOID card or firearm “without his father’s assistance in that application process,” Rinehart said.
“He knew what he knew, and he signed the form anyway. This was criminally reckless and a contributing cause to the bodily harm suffered by the victims of July 4th,” Rinehart said.
Crimo turned himself in to police on Friday and will have a bond hearing Saturday, Rinehart said.
Asked about the specifics of what Crimo knew at that time, Rinehart declined to comment further. But he added: “The parents know what is going on with their teenagers.”
The 21-year-old suspect, Robert E. Crimo III, faces 21 counts of first-degree murder, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery.
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