Robert “Bobby” E. Crimo III, the alleged shooter in the massacre that took place during an Independence Day parade and celebration in the northern Chicago suburb of Highland Park, IL, has been arrested and charged with multiple murder counts, with additional charges expected to come.
According to the Washington Examiner, the 21-year-old alleged shooter’s parents have already lawyered up, unsurprisingly, as the media digs in to find out what might have led to their son’s murder rampage.
In total, so far, seven people have died as a result of the attack. Dozens more were sent to local hospitals with varying levels of injury.
Crimo was arrested roughly eight hours after the shooting in his attempt to run from the police. He had reportedly donned women’s clothing and attempted to disguise himself after leaving the scene of the shooting, as his facial tattoos are readily identifiable.
Attorney’s statement
Steve Greenberg, a high-powered defense attorney who, for a long period of time, represented rapper R. Kelly, was retained by Crimo’s parents for legal counsel.
Greenberg released a series of statements on his Twitter account regarding the news.
The parents of the accused Highland Park shooter have retained us to represent them,” Greenberg tweeted.
He added: “They wish that we share the following: ‘We are all mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, and this is a terrible tragedy for many families, the victims, the paradegoers, the community and our own. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to everybody.'”
“The parents request that all respect their privacy as they try to sort thru this tragedy,” the statement concluded.
Going on the defense
It didn’t take long for Greenberg to get to work, as he published another tweet to deflect some of the criticism that Crimo’s parents are clearly receiving in the public eye.
The “system” is trying to make this about parenting. The parents recognize that is a legitimate concern. However it is important to know the Illinois State Police renewed the gun card when their son turned 21, long before this without any involvement from his father.
— Steve Greenberg (@SGcrimlaw) July 6, 2022
It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out with the parents, as there is clearly a new push to place them just behind their son as far as the blame game goes.