WAUKEGAN, Ill. (WLS) — A jury has been seated and is now ready for opening statements at the Highland Park parade shooting trial.
This is expected to be a very emotional trial not just for the victims’ families, but also for the Highland Park community.
Robert Crimo III is suspected of organizing and executing a mass shooting at Highland Park’s Fourth of July Parade in 2022, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals and causing injuries to numerous others.
The victims range in age from eight to 88 years old.
Crimo is charged with 21 counts of first-degree murder, three counts for each person and killed along with dozens of attempted murder charges.
During the trial, prosecutors say nearly all of the 48 survivors from that day plan to testify.
In addition, prosecutors have provided extensive evidence, including thousands of written pages and recorded video footage of an interrogation where it is alleged that Crimo admitted to being responsible for the shooting.
Crimo, 24, pleaded not guilty and rejected a plea deal least year.
Crimo sporadically appeared in court as jurors were questioned last week at times refusing to leave his jail cell.
The 12-person jury is made up of six men and six women with six alternates.
This trial is expected to last three to five weeks.
If convicted, Crimo is expected to get life in prison with no possibility of parole.
About the victims
The victims killed range in age from 8 to 88 years old.
- Katherine Goldstein, 64, of Highland Park
- Irina McCarthy, 35, of Highland Park
- Kevin McCarthy, 37, of Highland Park
- Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63, of Highland Park
- Stephen Straus, 88, of Highland Park
- Nicolas Toledo-Zargoza, 78 of Morelos, Mexico
- Eduardo Uvaldo, 69, of Waukegan
Irina and Kevin McCarthy’s 2-year-old son was found wandering alone in the wake of the Monday, and safely reunited with his grandparents.
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