The father of alleged Highland Park shooter Robert Crimo III is scheduled to appear in Lake County court Thursday for case management on reckless conduct charges.
Robert Crimo Jr. was charged in December with seven felony counts for vouching for his son on state forms in 2019 that cleared Crimo III to obtain his firearm owners identification card. At the time, Crimo III was 19, and, as an underage applicant, needed the signature of a parent to get a FOID card. Crimo III is charged in the shooting deaths of seven people and with several other crimes.
Crimo Jr., 58, a Highwood resident, has been free on bond since he was charged. His case was briefly up in court on Jan. 12, when it was scheduled for Thursday.
Court records indicate that he has yet to be arraigned.
Although Crimo could legally vouch for his son on state firearm forms, Lake County prosecutors allege the father’s actions were reckless.
[ Highland Park parade shooting: What we know about the victims, suspect, community and aftermath ]
At the time the father was charged in December, State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart hinted at a troubled background for Crimo III, and said the father should have known that before sponsoring him for a FOID card, which allows the holder to purchase firearms.
Crimo III allegedly made a suicide attempt in April 2019 and threatened his family that year, although there were no charges filed in that incident, authorities said. The Illinois State Police, which issues FOID cards, has said there were no records on file that would have raised red flags on Crimo III.
Prosecutors charged Crimo Jr, with one count of reckless conduct for each of the seven people his son allegedly killed on July Fourth when he opened fire at the Highland Park Independence Day parade.
Crimo III remains held in lieu of bond on 117 felony counts from the shooting, which injured dozens of spectators. He has a case management date scheduled for next week, according to court records.
