Victims' loved ones denied chance to confront Highland Park mass shooter

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — Witnesses of the 2022 mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade near Chicago emotionally relived the massacre at the gunman's sentencing hearing on Wednesday — even though Robert E. "Bobby" Crimo III didn't show his face in court.

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — Witnesses of the 2022 mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade near Chicago emotionally relived the massacre at the gunman's sentencing hearing on Wednesday — even though Robert E. "Bobby" Crimo III didn't show his face in court.

Crimo, 24, pleaded guilty last month to 69 counts, including 21 counts of murder, for the shooting that killed seven people and wounded nearly 50 more at a July 4, 2022, parade in Highland Park, about 30 miles outside Chicago.

He faces life without the possibility of parole, as Illinois doesn't have capital punishment.

The over 10 survivors, family members of victims, first responders, and witnesses of the shooting who were expected to make victim impact statements were denied their chance to confront Crimo after Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart told the court he had declined to attend his sentencing and opted to remain in jail.

Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti said Crimo had been informed that sentencing would proceed with or without him in previous court appearances.