Seven were killed and dozens were hurt in the July 4, 2022, mass shooting.
Robert Crimo III, the suspect in the deadly Highland Park, Illinois, mass shooting, changed his plea to guilty on Monday, just as his trial was set to begin, according to Chicago's ABC station WLS.
Crimo was charged with the killing of seven people and injuring dozens of others during the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park in 2022. He pleaded guilty to 21 counts of first-degree murder—three counts for each victim—as well as numerous attempted murder charges, WLS reported.
He is set to be sentenced on April 23.
Victims and Survivors React
Survivor Ashbey Beasley, who ran for safety with her son during the attack, expressed relief over the plea.
"Every single time I see [Crimo], it's stressful," Beasley told reporters. "Just knowing that this plea has been entered and we will not have to see him again is what we all need. Our path to healing is beginning."
Beasley also emphasized the urgent need for gun reform, stating, "We are not the first community to go through this, and we will not be the last. It's on our lawmakers to make changes so that this doesn't happen again."
Trial Developments
Jury selection for Crimo’s trial concluded last Wednesday, with opening statements initially planned for Monday. The trial was expected to last several weeks.
Prosecutors revealed that Crimo disguised himself in women's clothing and used makeup to conceal his facial tattoos during the attack, helping him blend in with the crowd. He was apprehended hours later and reportedly confessed to the shooting.
This is not the first time Crimo has considered a guilty plea. Last June, he appeared ready to accept a deal but ultimately rejected it, leaving victims’ families devastated. At the time, he was expected to plead guilty to seven counts of murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.
Leah Sundheim, whose mother, Jacquelyn Sundheim, was killed in the attack, voiced her frustration after Crimo backed out of the plea deal last year.
"All I wanted was to be able to fully grieve my mom without the looming trial, knowing that he was going to spend the rest of his life in jail," she said.
Crimo’s Father Also Faces Legal Consequences
Crimo’s father, Robert Crimo Jr., was present in court on Monday. He had previously pleaded guilty to reckless conduct for signing the Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) card that allowed his then-19-year-old son to obtain a firearm. Illinois law at the time required parental authorization for gun ownership for individuals under 21.