Highland Park shooting defendant refuses to leave jail cell for court appearance

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. — The man accused of killing seven people and injuring dozens more at the Highland Park Independence Day parade in 2022 was a no show Thursday for a scheduled court appearance.

The hearing was the first for Robert Crimo III since he rejected a plea deal in June.

Judge Victoria Rosetti waived Crimo’s presence, but informed his attorneys that hearings for his case and his trial can be held without his presence, meaning he would waive the opportunity to face his accusers.

Lake County Sheriff Deputy Chief Chris Covelli said Crimo on Thursday morning refused to leave his cell when informed by corrections staff that he was due in court. Crimo’s parents did attend the hearing, which lasted just a few minutes.

Defense attorneys notified the judge that they would be filing a motion on behalf of their client. Attorney Anton Trisna said he would have the motion ready in time for a scheduled status hearing on October 2. He did not indicate the nature of that motion.

Rosetti scheduled another hearing on all motions for November 14.

Authorities have said Crimo confessed to police in the days after he opened fire from a rooftop. They said he initially fled to the Madison, Wis., area and contemplated a second shooting at a parade there but returned to Chicago’s northern suburbs.

Killed in the attack were Katherine Goldstein, 64; Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63; Stephen Straus, 88; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; and Eduardo Uvaldo, 69, and married couple Kevin McCarthy, 37, and Irina McCarthy, 35. The McCarthys’ 2-year-old son was found alone at the scene and eventually reunited with extended family members.

All of them were from the Highland Park area except for Toledo-Zaragoza, who was visiting family in the city from Morelos, Mexico.

Crimo’s trial date has tentatively been set to begin February 25, 2025.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.