The shooter who allegedly opened fireplace on the Highland Park Fourth of July parade was dressed in women’s garments to disguise himself and support his escape — then ran property to his mom, police reported Tuesday.
Robert E. “Bobby” Crimo III, 21, is accused of killing 7 innocent parade-goers and injuring more than 40 some others right after he allegedly climbed onto the roof of a enterprise in the wealthy Chicago suburb on Monday and fired off 70 rounds from a higher-powered AR-15-fashion rifle.
He then wrapped the lawfully ordered weapon in a red blanket and ditched it powering the creating so he could mix in with the crowd as he fled throughout the chaos, authorities explained.
“Crimo was dressed in women’s outfits and investigators do think he did this to conceal his facial tattoos and his id,” Lake County Significant Criminal offense Job Drive spokesman Christopher Covelli explained to a information briefing. “He was observed on online video digicam in women’s outfits.”
He may possibly have even donned a hairpiece to full his disguise, authorities reported.
“A wig is not out of the concern,” Covelli mentioned.
The twisted go over was designed to make it seem “almost as if he was an harmless spectator himself,’’ Covelli explained. “He wore that in an endeavor to conceal himself.’’
Crimo, an beginner rapper, quickly went to his mother’s home close by and “borrowed” her automobile to flee, authorities said. There was no indicator he advised his mother what he’d just done, Covelli additional.
He remained on the free for several hours right after the mass capturing but was nabbed by police Monday night time — about 5 miles from the scene — when a bystander spotted his car and alerted 911.
Cops identified an additional rifle in the suspect’s motor vehicle and 3 firearms — “some pistols and doable a shotgun” — in his condominium in close by Highwood immediately after he was inevitably taken into custody, authorities said.
Authorities claimed Crimo had procured the weapons locally and lawfully in 2020 and 2021 — in spite of cops remaining referred to as to his home 2 times in 2019 soon after he threatened suicide and to “kill everyone” in his family.
When cops responded to the suspect’s residence in September 2019, officers seized 16 knives, a dagger and a sword, but claimed there was no sign he experienced any guns at the time.
The weapon made use of in the parade massacre was “similar to an AR-15” that shot “high velocity rounds,” Covelli mentioned.
No expenses have but been submitted against Crimo but an update was expected Tuesday afternoon, authorities explained.
“We do think Crimo pre-planned this attack for numerous months,” Covelli claimed, including that investigators ended up nonetheless attempting to identify a motive.
“Investigators … have been in discussions with him. I do not have anything at all to say about commitment so significantly for the reason that it hasn’t been offered.”
“We have no indication to counsel at this place that it was racially motivated, determined by faith,” Covelli added.
Authorities are reviewing disturbing social media posts Crimo had posted on-line.
Highland Park people instructed CNN they promptly identified Crimo when cops 1st released his photo mainly because of his distinct tattoos and colored hair.
Eric Januszewski claimed he had not long ago run into Crimo and commented that his facial tattoos ended up “quite a dedication.”
Crimo agreed and explained to Januszewski to verify out his SoundCloud account, he stated.
Supplemental reporting by Katie Donlevy
