Illinois man rejects deal to plead guilty to 7 murder charges in shooting at 2022 July Fourth parade (2024)

FILE - Visitors pay their respects, Thursday, July 7, 2022, at altars for the seven people killed in the Fourth of July mass shooting in Highland Park, Ill. Robert Crimo III, accused of killing seven people and injuring dozens more, including children, at a Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago in 2022 is scheduled for a court hearing Wednesday, June 26, 2024, when it is possible he will change his not guilty plea, the prosecutor says.

FILE - Robert E. Crimo III, appears for a case management meeting before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Ill., Wednesday, May. 29, 2024. Robert Crimo III, accused of killing seven people and injuring dozens more, including children, at a Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago in 2022 is scheduled for a court hearing Wednesday, June 26, 2024, when it is possible he will change his not guilty plea, the prosecutor says.

FILE - Robert Crimo III, appears for a case management meeting before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the Lake County Courthouse Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Waukegan, Ill. Crimo III, accused of killing seven people and injuring dozens more, including children, at a Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago in 2022 is scheduled for a court hearing Wednesday, June 26, 2024, when it is possible he will change his not guilty plea, the prosecutor says. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, Pool, File)

Robert E. Crimo III, left, talks to Lake County's assistant public defender Anton Trizna as he appears before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Ill., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Crimo III is charged with killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in the suburban Chicago town of Highland Park, Ill.

Robert E. Crimo III arrives before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Ill., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Crimo III is charged with killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in the suburban Chicago town of Highland Park, Ill.

Robert E. Crimo III appears before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Ill., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Crimo III is charged with killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in the suburban Chicago town of Highland Park, Ill.

Robert E. Crimo III's mother Denise Pesina, left, and father Robert Crimo Jr., wait before their son appears before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Ill., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Crimo III is charged with killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in the suburban Chicago town of Highland Park, Ill.

Robert E. Crimo III, left, talks to Lake County's assistant public defender Anton Trizna as he appears before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Ill., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Crimo III is charged with killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in the suburban Chicago town of Highland Park, Ill.

Robert E. Crimo III appears before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Ill., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Crimo III is charged with killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in the suburban Chicago town of Highland Park, Ill.

Robert E. Crimo III's mother Denise Pesina, left, and father Robert Crimo Jr., wait before their son appears before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Ill., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Crimo III is charged with killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in the suburban Chicago town of Highland Park, Ill.

Robert E. Crimo III appears before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Ill., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Crimo III is charged with killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in the suburban Chicago town of Highland Park, Ill.

Lake County, Ill., State's Attorney Eric Rinehart, right, Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Ben Dillon prepare before Robert E. Crimo III appears before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Ill., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Crimo III is charged with killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in the suburban Chicago town of Highland Park, Ill.

Robert E. Crimo III's attorney Gregory Ticsay, right, and Lake County's assistant public defender Anton Trizna wait before Robert E. Crimo III appears before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Ill., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Crimo III is charged with killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in the suburban Chicago town of Highland Park, Ill.

Robert E. Crimo III's attorney Gregory Ticsay, right, and Lake County's assistant public defender Anton Trizna talk before Robert E. Crimo III appears before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Ill., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Crimo III is charged with killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in the suburban Chicago town of Highland Park, Ill.

Lake County, Ill., State's Attorney Eric Rinehart prepares before Robert E. Crimo III appears before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Ill., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Crimo III is charged with killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in the suburban Chicago town of Highland Park, Ill.

Lake County, Ill., State's Attorney Eric Rinehart, right, Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Ben Dillon prepare before Robert E. Crimo III appears before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Ill., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Crimo III is charged with killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in the suburban Chicago town of Highland Park, Ill.

Karina Mendez, whose father Eduardo Uvaldo was killed, speaks at a news conference after the hearing of Robert E. Crimo III., at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Ill., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Crimo III is charged with killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in the suburban Chicago town of Highland Park, Ill.

Leah Sundheim, whose mother Jacquelyn was killed, closes her eyes as she speaks at a news conference after the hearing of Robert E. Crimo III., at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Ill., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Crimo III is charged with killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in the suburban Chicago town of Highland Park, Ill.

Robert E. Crimo III appears before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Ill., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Crimo III is charged with killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in the suburban Chicago town of Highland Park, Ill.

Leah Sundheim, center, whose mother Jacquelyn was killed in a July 4 shooting, speaks at a news conference as her father Bruce, left, listens following a hearing for Robert E. Crimo III, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Ill,. Crimo is charged with killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in the suburban Chicago town of Highland Park, Ill.