The suspected Chicago-area shooter who slaughtered seven and wounded 30 escaped dressed as a girl with the intention to evade detection, authorities mentioned.
After firing greater than 70 rounds, Robert “Bobby” E. Crimo III, 21, exited the roof, dropped his rifle, slipped into the gang and went to his mom’s home, in keeping with Chris Covelli, a spokesman with the Lake County Major Crime Task Force.
“He brought a high-powered rifle to this parade. He accessed the roof of a business via a fire escape ladder and began opening fire on the innocent Independence Day celebration-goers,” Covelli mentioned.
Authorities charged Crimo with seven counts of first-degree homicide on Tuesday.
An lively member of an area Jewish congregation and a beloved grandfather and father of eight had been among the many useless in Highland Park, an prosperous suburb on Chicago’s north shore, officers mentioned.
Investigators imagine Crimo disguised himself as a girl with the intention to disguise his facial tattoos and assist in his escape from the scene, in keeping with Covelli.
After escaping, Crimo walked to his mom’s home and borrowed her car, Covelli mentioned. There is not any indication he shared something about his alleged involvement within the taking pictures along with his mom.
Following a police alert for the car, an “alert member of community” noticed it and known as 911.
After he was apprehended, officers discovered one other rifle within the car, Covelli mentioned. That rifle additionally appeared to have been legally bought by Crimo. Other weapons had been present in his Highwood residence.
Crimo stays in custody.
Investigators are asking members of the group to come back ahead with any video they could have of Crimo on the parade.
“The community has been absolutely terrific as it comes to reporting information they may have, things they may have witnessed, turning over video,” Covelli mentioned.
Details on the unique buy of the weapon got here from an expedited hint carried out by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives within the wake of the taking pictures. The weapon has been described by authorities as “high powered.”
The expedited hint supplied a “major lead” to investigators, in keeping with Covelli.
He additionally informed the Tribune that the FBI is sending in an knowledgeable group to reconstruct the taking pictures, which suggests gadgets left alongside the parade route will possible stay for a number of days.
The victims ranged in age from 8 to 85. None of these killed had been kids, authorities mentioned.
Parade attendees described listening to a barrage of bullets whereas watching floats and marchers on the road. People grabbed kids and ran, taking cowl in close by retailers. A tuba participant recalled watching individuals working in panic whereas his band performed.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”