CHICAGO (AP) – A judge ruled on Wednesday that Robert Crimo III, the man charged with killing seven people and injuring dozens more at the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park in 2022, will stand trial in February 2025. Crimo, 23, faces 21 counts of first-degree murder, three for each person who died, as well as 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery, one for each surviving victim who was struck by a bullet, bullet fragment, or shrapnel.
The trial is scheduled to begin on Feb. 24, 2025, according to the Associated Press. Crimo’s attorneys proposed pushing the trial back until February 2025, while prosecutors suggested having the trial in September or October of this year. The judge told the two sides to discuss possible trial dates before Crimo’s next court appearance on Wednesday.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart stated that his office “would have been ready for trial this month” and emphasized the importance of seeking justice for the victims, families, survivors, and the entire Lake County community. Crimo remains in custody at the Lake County Jail, and the next court date is scheduled for April 24, 2024.
The attack resulted in the deaths of several individuals, including 64-year-old Katherine Goldstein, 35-year-old Irina McCarthy, 37-year-old Kevin McCarthy, 63-year-old Jacquelyn Sundheim, 88-year-old Stephen Straus, 78-year-old Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, and 69-year-old Eduardo Uvaldo.
The case has garnered widespread attention and has raised significant concerns about public safety and gun violence. The trial is expected to be closely followed by the community, and the outcome will have a lasting impact on the affected individuals and the broader Lake County area. Authorities are working diligently to ensure a fair trial and to deliver justice for the victims and their families.