The man accused of opening fire on a July 4 parade in Chicago, leaving at least seven dead and more than 30 injured, was charged with seven counts of first degree murder.
Suspect Robert E Crimo III was arrested hours after Monday’s attack in the suburb of Highland Park, Illinois.
The 21-year-old had been planning his attack for several weeks and is said to have climbed a fire escape on a company’s roof before firing more than 70 shots into the crowd with a powerful AR-15-style assault rifle.
Police said he had dressed in feminine clothes to hide his facial tattoosto blend in as he ran away from the scene
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Lake County State Attorney Eric Rinehart said there will be dozens of other charges against Crimo and, if convicted, faces life in prison with no parole.
Among the dead were Nicholas Toledo, a 70-year-old Mexican grandfather who was celebrating Independence Day with his family at the parade, and Jacki Sundheim, a teacher at a nearby synagogue.
Lake County Major Crime Task Force spokesman Christopher Covelli said the suspect was arrested after his vehicle was spotted and on-site officers found a second rifle in his car.
The suspect was arrested after the shooting
Officials said they did not know the reason for the shooting, but said Crimo legally purchased two high-powered rifles and three other weapons.
However, authorities were called to his home twice in 2019 after a family member claimed he threatened to “kill everyone” there.
Mr. Covelli said the police seized 16 knives, a dagger and a sword, but at the time there was no sign of weapons.
The rifle used in the attack had been legally purchased in Illinois in the past year, Covelli said.
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On July 4th, he shot the strange and violent online lead of suspect Robert Crimo
It comes just weeks after 19 children and two teachers were shot dead elementary school in Uvalde, Texasand 10 people were shot dead a grocery store in Buffalo, New York.
There have been 15 shootings this year in which four or more people have been killed, according to a database maintained by the Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University.
