The man who admitted to killing seven people and wounding 48 others in the 2022 Highland Park July 4th parade mass shooting will spend the rest of his life in prison, which is like, a no-brainer. Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti really threw the book at Robert Crimo III, giving him seven consecutive life sentences, one for each person he offed. She also tacked on an extra 50 years for the 48 counts of attempted murder, just to really drive the point home. Not really sure why this matters, but CBS News Chicago Legal Analyst Irv Miller thinks this sentencing hearing is like, ironclad, and Crimo is never getting out.
Crimo himself was a total no-show for his sentencing hearing, which is basically the same as saying, “I don’t care.” His lawyers didn’t even try to present any mitigating factors, so it’s like they knew they were fighting a losing battle. The judge had to pause because Crimo suddenly wanted to say something, but then changed his mind, and like, what’s the deal with that? Also, he didn’t even show up for jury selection, so it’s no surprise he’s not taking this seriously.
After two years of dodging court appearances and finally pleading guilty, Crimo is finally getting what he deserves. It’s a relief for the victims’ families, who can now start to move on and heal. It’s like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders, and they can finally breathe again. The community might never get a real apology, but at least they can move forward now.
The tragic loss of life in this shooting will never be forgotten, and the survivors will always carry that pain with them. The courage they’ve shown in the face of this tragedy is unbelievable. The ban on assault weapons in Illinois is a step in the right direction, but there’s still work to be done to prevent these senseless acts of violence from happening again.
In the end, Crimo’s fate is sealed, and his days of freedom are over. It’s a sad chapter in the history of Highland Park, but the community will rise above this and come out stronger on the other side. Now, it’s up to the corrections system to figure out where to stash him away for good.
