Overview

• Robert Crimo III pleaded guilty to 21 counts of first-degree murder and 48 counts of attempted murder, avoiding a trial set to begin this week.
• The 2022 Highland Park Fourth of July parade shooting left seven dead, 48 injured, and a community deeply traumatized.
• Crimo's guilty plea guarantees at least seven consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, with sentencing scheduled for April 23.
• The plea decision shocked victims' families and community members, many of whom had gathered expecting the start of a lengthy trial.
• Crimo's father previously pleaded guilty to reckless conduct for helping his son obtain a firearm license despite warnings about his violent tendencies.