Highland Park parade shooter signed 'Donald Trump' when waiving right to trial, court document shows
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (WLS) -- Highland Park parade shooter Robert Crimo III signed the name "Donald Trump," when he waived his right to trial earlier this week, court documents show.
Crimo pleaded guilty Monday to 21 counts of first-degree murder and 48 counts of attempted first-degree murder in the deadly mass shooting at Highland Park's Fourth of July parade in 2022.
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In a Lake County court document signed Tuesday waiving his right to a trial, Crimo signed the name "Donald Trump" on the "defendant" line, rather than his own.
Crimo's decision to plead guilty at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan came as a surprise to many, and brought a sense of closure to families of the victims and survivors of the shooting.
Last June, the Lake County State's Attorney's Office believed they had a deal for Crimo, 24, to plead guilty. That fell through.
The trial was just minutes from starting on Monday morning when Crimo surprised everyone by entering a guilty plea.
He appeared in court on Monday morning in a dark suit and tie, looking like he was ready for trial.
The gallery was full of survivors of the July 4, 2022 mass shooting. The judge and the attorneys were on the verge of starting that trial, with opening statements set to begin at 9 a.m. But Crimo apparently had no intention of going through with it, instead, changing his plea to guilty moments before.
Judge Victoria Rossetti then asked Crimo a series of questions about this major decision, including asking about any medication he has taken, if he understands the time he will likely be facing if he pleads guilty and if he was forced to enter this plea.
He provided single "yes" and "no" answers in a rather monotone manner.
Rossetti even told Crimo, "You can have a trial; you don't have to do this."
He acknowledged that, but maintained his guilty plea, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no chance for parole.
A sentencing hearing for Crimo is set for April 23 at 9 a.m. Many of the survivors are expected to read victim impact statements in court at that time.
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