Parents of the Highland Park mass shooter spoke out and claimed there were no “red flags” despite the evidence suggesting otherwise.
On the Fourth of July, as the Highland Park parade was underway, 21-year-old Robert ‘Bobby’ Crimo opened fire on the crowd with a Smith & Wesson M&P 15, a rifle he legally ordered online and picked up at a local store.
After killing seven people and injuring several dozen, Crimo has been arrested and charged with seven counts of first-degree murder.
Now, the suspected mass murderer’s parents spoke out and suggested that “this is a terrible tragedy” not only for the victims’ families but for their family as well.
“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,” Bob Crimo Sr. and Denise Pesina said in a statement.
“Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to everybody.”
Speaking out on their behalf was also their lawyer, Steve Greenberg, who appeared on NewsNation and claimed his clients didn’t see any red flags that would alert them of their son’s gruesome plans.
“I don’t think anyone’s ever aware of any red flags that make them think that their son is gonna go out in their own community and start shooting people,” Greenberg claimed.
“Had they seen any signs of it, I think they would have acted. They’re responsible parents.”
As evidence suggests, however, there were plenty of red flags to worry about in the years leading to the shooting.
Among other concerning issues were the 21-year-old self-proclaimed rapper’s sketches showing people getting shot by a rifle and the gunman lying in a pool of blood.
He also released a disturbing music video in which he was heard laughing maniacally while dropping bullets to the floor of what appears to be a ransacked classroom.
Furthermore, the police revealed they were called to the family’s home on two occasions back in 2019.
In April 2019, the authorities allegedly arrived at the Crimo house after Robert threatened to kill himself. In September of the same year, they once again made a trip to the family home and seized the then-teenager’s weapons, including 16 knives, a sword, and a dagger, after he threatened to “kill everyone” in his family.
“[In April 2019] they responded to the residence, spoke to him, his parents and the matter was being handled with the mental health profession. There was no law enforcement action to be taken,” Lake County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a Tuesday press conference.
“In September 2019, a family remember reported that he said he was going to ‘kill everyone’ and that he had a collection of knives. They responded and took 16 knives and a dagger from his home.
“There was no probable cause to arrest and no complaints assigned by the victims. They did notify the Illinois State Police.”
Just two months after Robert’s threats, Bob Crimo Sr. reportedly supported his son’s FOID card application which is needed to buy firearms.
Later in 2020, the suspect purchased a Smith & Wesson M&P 15 used in the recent shooting. Crimo allegedly ordered the gun online before presenting his FOID card at a local gun store as he picked up the weapon.
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