The man accused of killing seven people in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in Chicago has confessed to police that he shot at the crowd.
Robert E Crimo III faces seven murder charges about the shooting in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, Illinois, and news of the confession – presented by the Lake County Attorney – broke as he appeared in court.
The prosecutor said Crimo admitted to disguising himself as a woman to blend in with the crowd before climbing onto the roof, looking through his visor and firing a Smith & Wesson semi-automatic rifle down the street.
It was also revealed that Crimo had considered a second shooting in Madison, Wisconsin, but — despite having 60 rounds left — hadn’t planned it, so wasn’t going ahead.
Crimo, 21, had been planning the attack in Chicago for several weeks, police said, and is said to have climbed a fire escape onto the roof of a business before firing at the crowd.
In court, Lake County Assistant Attorney Ben Dillon said the suspect left the shells of 83 bullets and three ammo magazines on the roof.
If convicted of murder, Crimo faces life in prison without the possibility of parole, and prosecutors have already said “dozens” more charges are expected.
On Wednesday, Crimo appeared in court via video link for a bail hearing before Judge Theodore Potkonjak.
Dressed in black, he did not plead and spoke only briefly to confirm that he had no attorney to represent him.
The judge ruled that Crimo should not be released on bail, saying, “He does pose a concrete and present threat to the community.”
Image: AP
Image: AP
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The strange and violent online trail of murder suspect Robert Crimo on July 4th
Among the victims of Monday’s attack were Nicholas Toledo, a Mexican grandfather in his 70s, and Jacki Sundheim, a teacher at a nearby synagogue.
It came just weeks after 19 children and two teachers were shot dead in one Elementary school in Uvalde, Texasand 10 people were shot at one Grocery store in Buffalo, New York.
There were 15 shootings that year that killed four or more people, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today, and Northeastern University.