Highland Park July 4th shooting: Suspect wore woman’s clothing during parade massacre

The Illinois male accused of firing far more than 70 rounds at Independence Working day paradegoers in Highland Park, Illinois, Monday dressed up in a woman’s clothes in an alleged work to conceal himself, according to investigators.

Robert E. Crimo III, 21, dropped the weapon at the scene and blended in with the crowd to flee, according to Main Deputy Chris Covelli, of the Lake County Significant Crime Task Force. Authorities experienced in the beginning documented his age as 22, but they issued a correction Tuesday. 

He allegedly utilized a “large-powered rifle” to get rid of six out of additional than 30 shot, Covelli told reporters all through a Tuesday early morning information briefing. He stated there was no evidence anybody else was associated in the massacre.

But Crimo allegedly preplanned the assault for weeks, he stated, and blended in with the group as he walked to his mother’s dwelling prior to escaping in her automobile. Authorities recovered a next rifle in his mother’s silver Honda In shape vehicle on Crimo’s seize in North Chicago. He obtained the weapons regionally from an unspecified seller.

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“Crimo preplanned this assault for quite a few months,” Covelli stated. “He introduced a high-run rifle to this parade. He accessed the roof of a business via a hearth escape ladder and began opening fireplace on the harmless Independence Day paradegoers.”

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Regulation enforcement resources told Fox News Digital that in addition to an AR-15-type rifle made use of in the assault, Crimo had also lawfully acquired a bolt-motion rifle, a handgun and a shotgun. Covelli reported he might have owned several pistols.

Authorities are asking anyone with information and facts, movie or photographs from Monday’s parade to get in touch with police or the FBI as investigators build their circumstance. Prices were being still underneath overview Tuesday, police claimed.

The attack began about 10:14 a.m. CT at the intersection of Central Avenue and 2nd Road. The parade started at 10 close to at the corner at Laurel and St. Johns Avenues and would have concluded at Sunset Park.

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Law enforcement said 5 victims ended up uncovered dead at the scene, and a sixth succumbed to accidents at the medical center.

Crimo is a self-described rapper making use of the pseudonym “Awake.” He has a record of putting up disturbing images on the web, together with graphics depicting taking pictures violence.

Covelli reported Tuesday that police experienced not nevertheless determined a motive in the assault.

The suspect’s uncle, Paul Crimo, instructed FOX 32 Chicago that he observed “no warning indications” and that his nephew was a quiet youthful guy.

“He retains all the things to himself, and he won’t categorical himself,” he instructed the station. “So he just sits down on his computer. There is no interaction in between me and him.”