Survivors of Highland Park parade shooting speak in court before Robert Crimo III's sentencing

Highland Park shooter not present in court Wednesday

ByChristian Piekos, John Garcia, and Tre Ward

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Highland Park shooting survivors speak ahead of shooter's sentencing

Robert Crimo III, who pleaded guilty to the Highland Park 4th of July Parade shooting in 2022, was not in court for sentencing Wednesday.

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (WLS) -- Family members of the seven people killed in the Highland Park parade shooting expressed their tremendous loss in court Wednesday.

The sentencing hearing for Robert Crimo III began Wednesday morning.

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But, the man who pleaded guilty to the 2022 mass shooting on the Fourth of July was not in the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan.

The gallery was packed with Highland Park families, who were anxious to watch Crimo hear just how much pain he caused.

But, Crimo was not in court Wednesday.

Sentencing will extend into Thursday morning, after court wrapped up Wednesday evening.

There is still one more victim impact statement, and then arguments, before sentencing.

Crimo killed seven and injured dozens more when he opened fire with an assault rifle from a rooftop on the parade route.

"It's just mind-boggling the level of tragedy and how that has played itself out again and again in so many families," attorney Lance Northcutt said.

Northcutt represents the McCarthy family.

The parents were killed during the shooting rampage, leaving their then-2-year-old son, who eventually wound up with Dana Ruder Ring.

Ruder Ring testified Wednesday morning that the young child told her his mama and papa were coming to get him.

Keeley Roberts' son was paralyzed after being shot.

She addressed her comments to Crimo, saying, "You are now irrelevant to our family and friends. You ruined your life. You did not ruin ours."

While Crimo has already pleaded guilty, the victim impact statements are an opportunity for State's Attorney Eric Rinehart to put on part of his case, making it clear that Crimo was trying to kill people, and, in an interview after his arrest, showed no remorse.

At one point, Crimo told police who were interviewing him that he had second thoughts briefly before climbing the stairs to the roof. But then he heard a song that prompted him to go ahead with his plan.

He told the officer questioning him, "I jumped on the roof; then, I opened fire."

A survivor shot in the foot spoke in court Wednesday.

She said she was at the parade with her family, and described the terrifying moments they sought shelter in what she described as a "pile of people" hiding behind a pillar for protection.

She described the scene as a "war zone" and surreal.

Before opening statements began on the first day of Crimo's trial, the 24-year-old abruptly changed his plea to guilty in front of a courtroom filled with survivors and witnesses of the horrific parade shooting.

Civil attorneys have already filed suit on behalf of some of the victims.

"He didn't want to face his victims; they didn't want to speak to him," attorney Antonio Romanucci said.

He pleaded guilty to 21 counts of first-degree murder and 48 counts of attempted first-degree murder.

"The fact that Crimo didn't show up today is a surprise to exactly no one; it's the act of a coward," Northcutt said. "Something that's consistent with the kind of man that shoots innocent children, women, men from a hidden position, concealed on a rooftop, so, I wouldn't even give his actions any dignity or any mention other than to say that it's consistent with the evil human being that he truly is."

Crimo faces the possibility of life in prison.

Crimo's parents were also absent in court Wednesday. His father said he had no comment as to why his son was a no-show.