Update (2330ET): Robert Crimo III was taken into custody Monday evening following a shooting in Highland Park, Illinois that left at least six people dead and over two dozen injured despite having among the strictest gun-safety laws in the country.
He is currently being referred to as a “person of interest” while Highland Park Police question him.
The 22-year-old was apprehended without incident in nearby Lake Forest.
Law enforcement currently circling and inspecting vehicle driven by person of interest, 22-yo Robert “Bobby” Crimo III
He’s now in custody related to #HighlandPark parade mass shooting that killed at least 6
LIVE NOW: https://t.co/vEMDs0BRQH | @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/kHdev8CGSy
— Marissa Parra (@MarParNews) July 5, 2022
Crimo has somewhat of a large internet footprint – performing online as “Awake the Rapper,” while IMDB describes Crimo as a “six foot Hip hop phenom” born on Sept. 20, 2000. “He’s the middle child of three and of Italian descent,” Fox News reports.
Crimo began uploading his music to the internet at age 11, but first gained traction with his 2016 track “By The Pond” featuring Atlas, according to IMDB. His estimated net worth is “$100 thousand.”
Crimo is the son of Bob Crimo, president at Bob’s Pantry & Deli in Highland Park. According to his Facebook account, the father ran for Highland Park mayor in 2020.
The rapper released a cryptic track called “Are You Awake” on Oct. 15, 2021. The track appears to suggest that Crimo was planning a life-defining act beyond his ability to stop. The video includes drawings of a man aiming a rifle at another person. -Fox News
A screenshot from Robert “Bobby” Crimo’s youtube video “Are You Awake”. This was premeditate. What a sick individual. pic.twitter.com/tYJRjoSIQz
— xen (@itssxen) July 4, 2022
The suspect in the Highland Park shooting, Robert Crimo III, posted multiple disturbing videos on YouTube with violent imagery.
"Like a sleepwalker unable to stop and think, my actions will be valiant. And my thought is unnecessary. I know what I have to do." pic.twitter.com/CROskei1Vh
— steven monacelli (@stevanzetti) July 4, 2022
He also “liked” several tweets endorsing the arrest of “every Congressmember who helped organize January 6th,” suggesting he’s a leftist.
On the other hand:
I think Robert Crimo is a psycho. Planned it all out to look like he’s both a Trump supporter and a Biden supporter. Perhaps a true accelerationist. He’s got everyone squabbling over his politics but at the end of the day he killed innocents and represents no one but himself.
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) July 5, 2022
Crimo’s Instagram, Discord, Twitter, YouTube and other social media platforms have taken down his material.
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Update (2010ET): Robert Cremo III, the suspect in Monday’s deadly shooting at the Highland Park, IL 4th of July parade, has been taken into custody according to CBS Chicago.
JUST IN: Sources tell us Robert Cremo III has been taken into custody. @cbschicago
— Chris Tye (@TVTye) July 4, 2022
#HighlandPark pic.twitter.com/cuzxo3lEjh
— Darren (@ChiTownCheese) July 4, 2022
JUST IN: Police take Highland Park parade shooting “person of interest” Robert (Bobby) Crimo into custody. pic.twitter.com/sBBGVVM3lP
— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) July 4, 2022
"No guns for people that look like this" would pass unanimously pic.twitter.com/l0FSIQY0Za
— Andy Swan (@AndySwan) July 4, 2022
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Update (1900ET): Police have announced Robert “Bobby” Crimo III as a person of interest in Monday’s shooting in Highland Park, Illinois.
More photos of Robert "Bobby" Crimo III, the person of interest in the #HighlandPark, Illinois July 4th parade massacre: pic.twitter.com/obLluPKpYX
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) July 4, 2022
ILLINOIS: Robert "Bobby" Crimo III, 22, sought in connection with Highland Park mass shooting. Suspect vehicle is a silver 2010 Honda Fit with IL plate DM80653. Call 911 if seen. (Source: FBI) pic.twitter.com/ykICW6W1SX
— U.S. Emergency Alert (@ENSAlerts) July 4, 2022
Another disturbing video of the Highland Park shooter Robert “Bobby” Crimo #HighlandPark https://t.co/uxHEJorczg pic.twitter.com/rp0sQ9DTV5
— Catalaya Heisenberg (@catalayahere) July 4, 2022
This account “@awake_________” appears to be a long-standing fan page for the highland park shooter Robert crimo. if you look through the old likes it shows a lot of radical left wing extremism and guns, and hatred of republicans pic.twitter.com/M56ghGQScq
— America Respector (@frenchpoast) July 4, 2022
A catalog of online material from Robert Crimo, cataloged by @crabcrawler1 (click on tweet to jump into thread).
"Robert Crimo Archive Footage: File 1447" pic.twitter.com/HdkHixK5h4
— Crab Man (@crabcrawler1) July 4, 2022
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Update (1605ET): The death toll has increased to 6, with 24 injured.
Another shot from the Highland Park mass shooting.
Hadn’t seen this clip on here.
Sounds like nearly 60 shots fired in this one alone. pic.twitter.com/X66gqEiGHD— Jake (@SiIentRunning) July 4, 2022
Update (1341ET): Five people were dead and 16 others wounded when a gunman opened fire on a Fourth of July parade that kicked off Monday afternoon in Highland Park, a city in the southeastern part of Lake County, Illinois, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The Highland Park Police Department said the shooter is still on the loose. They urged people to seek shelter.
BREAKING: Police have issued the following description of a shooter who is wearing an army-style yellow backpack.
The shooter opened fire on the crowd from the rooftop of a nearby building, killing at least 4 people at the Illinois Highland Park 4th of July Parade. pic.twitter.com/M2QUhkf9Ky
— BNN Newsroom (@BNNBreaking) July 4, 2022
Highland Park resident, Miles Zaremski, said: “I heard 20 to 25 shots, which were in rapid succession. So it couldn’t have been just a handgun or a shotgun.”
Zaremski said he saw “people in that area that got shot,” including “a woman covered with blood . . . She did not survive.”
Highland Park Shooting:
– At least 5 dead, 16 injured, following mass shooting at July 4th parade in Highland Park, Illinois
– Suspect is at large
– Authorities have secured a perimeter around Downtown Highland Parkpic.twitter.com/f52pnNHnjo— PM Breaking News (@PMBreakingNews) July 4, 2022
Debbie Glickman, another resident, told Associated Press she was on a parade float when she turned around and saw people running away from the area.
“People started saying, ‘There’s a shooter, there’s a shooter, there a shooter,'” Glickman said. “So we just ran. We just ran. It’s like mass chaos down there.”
* * *
A Chicago suburb canceled what was left of its 4th of July celebration after gunfire erupted during a parade in the affluent neighborhood of Highland Park, according to NBC5 Chicago.
The Chicago Sun Times reports that multiple people were shot.
A Sun-Times reporter saw blankets placed over three bloodied bodies. Other people, running, were visibly bloodied. Police told people: “Everybody disburse, please. It is not safe to be here.”
Cops are still going to the scene pic.twitter.com/gL3Gjhil7V
— eNreeKaii (@Ri_Kayyy) July 4, 2022
#BREAKING: Multiple fatalities reported following reports of an active shooter during a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois.
Reports that the suspect is barricaded inside of a Sunset Foods grocery with hostages.
pic.twitter.com/HWIl6G7DFk https://t.co/tODYGnZ2G2
— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) July 4, 2022
“STAY OUT OF THE AREA – allow law-enforcement and first responders to do their work,” posted the sheriff on social media, while Illinois state police called the situation “active.”
Witnesses say the shooter was on the roof of Uncle Dan’s and fired into parade. 5 or 6 shots, then a pause, then 5 or 6 more shots. The shooter is still at large and North Shore residents are being asked to stay inside. #highlandpark @WGNNews
— Dan Ponce (@DanPonceTV) July 4, 2022
More via the Sun Times:
Several witnesses said they heard multiple shots fired. One witness said he counted more than 20 shots.
Miles Zaremski, a Highland Park resident, told the Sun-Times: “I heard 20 to 25 shots, which were in rapid succession. So it couldn’t have been just a handgun or a shotgun.”
Zaremski said that after the shots at Central Avenue around Second Avenue in downtown Highland Park, he saw “people in that area that got shot,” including “a woman covered with blood . . . She did not survive.”
…
Police were patrolling the area with rifles, apparently looking for whoever fired the shots.
Adrienne Drell, a former Sun-Times reporter, said she was sitting on a curb along Central Avenue watching the parade when she saw members of the Highland Park High School marching band start to run.
“Go to Sunset,” Drell said she heard the students shout, directing people to nearby Sunset Food.
A man picked her up off the curb and urged her to get out, Drell said.
“The Illinois State Police is currently assisting Highland Park PD with an active shoot situation that occurred at the Highland Park Parade,” tweeted the police. “The public is advised to avoid the area of Central Ave and 2nd St. in Highland Park.”
Shotting in highland park 4th of July parade. pic.twitter.com/oCfhzfKRZj
— Hugo Aguilar (@Hugo_Aguilar6) July 4, 2022
The city of Highland Park also cautioned people to avoid the area, writing on Facebook: “Fourth Fest has been canceled. Please avoid downtown Highland Park. More information will be shared as it becomes available.”
via zerohedge