The father of the suspected gunman in the Illinois parade massacre has been charged with seven counts of felony reckless conduct for helping his son obtain a gun permit, authorities said Friday.
Robert Crimo Jr., father of Robert Crimo III, turned himself in Friday and faces a bail hearing Saturday.
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The younger Crimo fatally shot seven people and wounded 48 more at a Fourth of July parade in the north Chicago suburb of Highland Park, investigators say. He remains behind bars and faces more than 100 charges.
The alleged shooter’s father, Crimo Jr., was charged with reckless conduct because he signed his son’s application for an Illinois Firearm Owners ID card, Lake County prosecutor Eric Rinehart said.
“In this case, the system failed when Robert Crimo Jr. sponsored his son,” Rinehart said. “He knew what he knew, and he signed the form anyway.”
Rinehart did not specify what Crimo Jr. knew, citing the ongoing case. However, police have previously said that Crimo III attempted suicide by machete in April 2019, and the corresponding police report indicated a “history of attempts.”
Authorities also said Crimo III threatened to “kill everyone” with a collection of knives in September 2019.
Crimo Jr. signed off on his son’s application in December 2019. He has previously said he didn’t feel culpable for his son’s actions and didn’t regret signing the form.
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“People bear responsibility for when they recklessly endanger others,” Rinehart said Friday. “These are moral and legal foundations upon which these charges rest.”
Crimo Jr. faces a maximum of three years in prison if convicted. His defense attorney, George Gomez, called the charges “baseless and unprecedented.”
With News Wire Services
