Details about the man suspected of gunning down six people in cold blood and injuring dozens more during a 4th of July parade in Highland Park, Chicago are trickling in. Find out why the suspect was dressed in women's clothes and deets about his online activity before the massacre inside…
A 4th of July celebration in a Chicago suburb ended in gunfire, leaving six people dead and dozens injured.
Police revealed a suspect is in custody after at least six people were killed and dozens more (at least 30) injured following a mass shooting in downtown Highland Park, Illinois Monday morning.
Hours after the shooting, police detained 21-year-old Robert “Bobby” Crimo III. According to police, he’s an amateur rapper who posted a number of videos depicting violence months before the deadly attack. His stage name is "Awake the Rapper” with 16,000 monthly Spotify listeners.
The suspected terrorist has yet to be formerly charged, but police believe he carried out the 4th of July massacre by climbing onto the rooftop of a nearby business and opening fire on innocent people minutes after the parade started.
Parade-goers heard the shots and began to flee for safety - not knowing where the shots were coming from or why. Police revealed he fired off at 70 rounds into the crowd of innocent people. Watch the chaos ensue below:
Video from a Highland Park parade shooting witness shows people fleeing as shots are fired. https://t.co/yK1GO6PtrTpic.twitter.com/21IevQEeYT
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) July 4, 2022
A shooting at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, sent hundreds of people fleeing for safety. The police said six people were killed and dozens were wounded after a gunman opened fire from a rooftop.https://t.co/2buIjwH98jpic.twitter.com/Hhsq7vv4gJ
— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 4, 2022
Police identified the man as a “person of interest” who the FBI said was "being sought for his alleged involvement in the shooting of multiple individuals" at Highland Park's Independence Day parade. Highland Park Mayor NancyRoteringtold CNN the suspected shooter will be charged later today.
And get this, the shooter didn’t go down without a fight. He was taken into custody UNHARMED after leading police on a brief chase when a North Chicago police officer attempted a traffic stop. If only these same liberties were offered to ALL U.S. citizens. So odd non of the officers weren’t “scared” for their lives.
Mayor Rotering told CNN it was her understanding that the alleged shooter purchased the high-powered rifle legally in the state of Illinois. The police confirmed that in a press conference. The mayor also shared several of the suspect’s online postings “reflected a plan and a desire to commit carnage for a long time in advance.”
#BREAKING: Police say suspected Highland Park July 4th mass shooter Robert Crimo planned attack for several weeks with a rifle purchased legally in Illinois by the 21yo.
Officers also say he wore women’s clothing and blended into the crowd after firing over 70 shots.@Reuterspic.twitter.com/zrnX0CwFny
— Eric Cox (@EricCoxTV) July 5, 2022
Police believe he pre-planned this attack for several weeks. During the attack, the suspected terrorist was dressed in women’s clothing and investigators believe he did this to conceal his facial tattoos and identity so he could flee during the chaos. Following the attack, he exited the roof, dropped his rifle, blended in with the crowd. He walked to his mother home, who lives in the area. He borrowed his mother’s vehicle for the attack. Watch the clip above.
After the mass shooting, victims spoke with reporters about the horror they felt once they heard gunfire. One man said he put his son in a dumpster while he searched for the rest of his family. Peep the clip below:
"I put my son in the dumpster": A father who witnessed the Highland Park parade shooting hid his son while shots were fired. https://t.co/yK1GO6PtrTpic.twitter.com/cytjhX5ExW
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) July 4, 2022
According to TMZ, Crimo - who turns 22 in September - joked about school shootings online and even drew a sketch of him getting shot and killed by cops with a gun by his side.
Police identify Robert "Bobby" E. Crimo III (22) as the suspect in the Highland Park shooting.
According to reports he’s also known as ‘Awake the Rapper’.
Here’s a music video I screen recorded from YouTube.
YouTube has already removed his official account. pic.twitter.com/ntzpaYQvv5— Stephanie Hamill (@STEPHMHAMILL) July 4, 2022
Last year...
It appears that Robert E. Crimo III who's wanted for the shooting in Highland Park is a right-wing nut job who supports Trump pic.twitter.com/9w6ri7KcCn
— Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) July 4, 2022
Crimo - who is reportedly "known to law enforcement" - attended several Trump rallies. In one, he dressed up as "Where's Waldo." At another, he draped himself in a Trump flag.
Law enforcement is expected to formerly charge the suspected terrorist later today. We send our heartfelt condolences and hearts to everyone affected by this horrific tragedy.
Photo: Nam Y. Huh/AP/TMZ
