**July 4th Mass Murderer Called ‘Evil and Manipulative’ After Plea Deal Rejection**
In a shocking turn of events, Robert Crimo III, the accused perpetrator of the July 4th mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, rejected a plea deal that would have sentenced him to life imprisonment. The decision, made during a court hearing on Wednesday, has left the families of the victims devastated and outraged.
Crimo, 23, appeared in the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Illinois, in a wheelchair, escorted by deputies. The plea deal, which had been previously arranged, required Crimo to plead guilty to seven counts of murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery. In exchange, he would receive a life sentence, and all other charges would be dismissed.
However, when Judge Victoria Rossetti asked Crimo if he accepted the plea deal, he remained silent. His attorneys requested a brief recess to discuss the matter with him. Upon returning to the courtroom, Crimo ultimately rejected the plea deal, stating, “No.”
The rejection of the plea deal means that Crimo will now face a criminal trial scheduled to begin on February 25, 2025. The decision has been met with anger and frustration from the families of the victims, who feel that Crimo is “playing games” with the court and prolonging their suffering.
Leah Sundheim, whose mother Jacquelyn Sundheim was killed in the shooting, expressed her anguish, saying, “He is evil and manipulative and brought us here today probably knowing what he was going to do.” Sundheim added that Crimo’s actions in the courtroom showed his continued “reign of terror.”
Attorney Antonio Romanucci, who represents several of the families in civil suits related to the mass shooting, echoed these sentiments. “This was a calculated effort on his part to continue the suffering that our clients are going through,” Romanucci told CNN.
Crimo is accused of carrying out a horrific attack during the Independence Day parade in Highland Park on July 4, 2022. According to prosecutors, Crimo, dressed as a woman and wearing makeup to cover his face and neck tattoos, climbed onto a rooftop overlooking the parade route and fired more than 70 rounds into the crowd using a military-style rifle. The attack resulted in the deaths of seven people and injuries to 48 others.
The victims of the shooting included Katherine Goldstein, 64; Kevin McCarthy, 37; Irina McCarthy, 35; Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63; Stephen Straus, 88; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; and Eduardo Uvaldo, 69. An 8-year-old boy was also paralyzed after being shot in the back.
Following the attack, Crimo allegedly blended into the fleeing crowd and was later captured by police after a car chase in Lake Forest. Prosecutors stated that Crimo admitted to carrying out the attack and detailed his use of multiple 30-round magazines.
Illinois lawmakers abolished the state’s death penalty in 2011, meaning that Crimo faces life imprisonment if convicted. Crimo’s father, Robert Crimo Jr., pleaded guilty in November to seven misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct for signing a firearm owner’s ID card for his son. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail, two years’ probation, and 100 hours of community service. As part of his plea deal, Crimo Jr. agreed to testify against his son.
The courtroom was filled with the families of the victims, who had hoped for closure with the acceptance of the plea deal. Instead, they were left to grapple with the prospect of a lengthy trial. Leah Sundheim expressed her frustration, saying, “We have Fourth of July coming up, and it will be two years. All I wanted was to be able to fully grieve my mom without the looming trial, knowing that he was going to spend the rest of his life in jail.”
Karina Mendez, whose father Eduardo Uvaldo was killed in the attack, shared her disappointment but vowed to remain patient with the court system. “It’s hard just to come in here and see the person that took my dad,” Mendez said. “I was hoping for closure—that was the goal for today, to be done with this.”
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart made a brief statement after the hearing, assuring the victims’ families that prosecutors would continue to support them and be ready for trial. “We will be ready for trial,” Rinehart said.
The rejection of the plea deal has left the families of the victims feeling revictimized and frustrated. Lance Northcutt, an attorney for the McCarthy family, stated that Crimo’s actions in court were a deliberate attempt to continue the terror that began on July 4, 2022.
As the trial date approaches, the families of the victims are left to navigate their grief and seek justice for their loved ones. The community of Highland Park remains deeply affected by the tragic events of that fateful day, and the upcoming trial will undoubtedly be a difficult and emotional process for all involved.
Source: UPI, CNN, The Associated Press, ABC News
