Wednesday 6 July 2022 07:54 AM 'This is a terrible tragedy for many families...and our own.' Parents of Bobby ... trends now

Wednesday 6 July 2022 07:54 AM 'This is a terrible tragedy for many families...and our own.' Parents of Bobby ... trends now
Wednesday 6 July 2022 07:54 AM 'This is a terrible tragedy for many families...and our own.' Parents of Bobby ... trends now

Wednesday 6 July 2022 07:54 AM 'This is a terrible tragedy for many families...and our own.' Parents of Bobby ... trends now

The parents of Highland Park shooter Robert 'Bobby' Crimo III, 21, have finally spoken out about their son's heinous actions - and branded them a 'tragedy' - after it emerged the shooter's dad helped him buy a gun despite cops earlier removing a weapon from him.  

Bob Crimo  and his wife, Denise, said in a brief statement: '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. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to everybody.' 

But it emerged on Tuesday that Bob Crimo had sponsored his killer son's application for a gun permit in 2020, even after the murderer had threatened to kill himself and his family. 

Robert Crimo obtained his firearm's permit in early 2020, meaning he was able to legally buy the rifle police believe he used in Monday's massacre. 

Their son could face life in prison after being charged by the Illinois State’s Attorney’s office with seven counts of first-degree murder. Lake County State Attorney Eric Reinhart says Crimo faces 'dozens' of other charges related to the people he injured. 

Prior to the release of the statement, the family's attorney, Steve Greenberg, told News Nation Now in an interview that the family are unaware of any red flags against Crimo. 

Robert 'Bobby' Crimo, 21, is facing seven counts of first degree murder following the July fourth parade shooting in Highland Park, according to state prosecutors

Robert 'Bobby' Crimo, 21, is facing seven counts of first degree murder following the July fourth parade shooting in Highland Park, according to state prosecutors

Greenberg said: '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.'

He added: 'Had they seen any signs of it, I think they would have acted. They’re responsible parents.'  

Police at first said that Crimo was not known to them but on Tuesday, they revealed he was interviewed twice by authorities in 2019. 

The first was in April 2019 a week after he threatened to kill himself. The second was in September 2019, after he threatened to 'kill everyone' in his family. 

Police recovered 16 knives, a dagger and sword from his home but he was not arrested. 

Instead, he was able to turn 21 and buy two assault rifles in Illinois, along with three other types of gun. It remains unclear why the two previous incidents were not flagged when he legally purchased the weapons. 

Greenberg told News Nation Now Crimo's parents 'dispute' the police version of events involving threats that their son allegedly made against them. 

In December 2019, the suspect bought a firearm with his father's help as he was under the age of 21 at the time. Crimo's father sponsored his son's application for a Firearm Owners Identification card in Illinois. 

The attorney rejected the allegation that the family should have been alarmed at the notion of Crimo having a firearm just months after being interviewed by the police.

Greenberg said: 'I think the bigger issue here is why is a kid able to get a FOID card and then purchase a military assault weapon? I think that’s a bigger question that we should be asking ourselves. Not whether the family should have sponsored him to get a FOID card when there were no red flags and it was perfectly lawful.'

He echoed the family's statement on the shooting saying: 'It’s just a tragedy all the way around. Imagine waking up one day and knowing that your loved one goes to a parade and gets killed. Imagine waking up one day and knowing that your child may never get out of jail.'

Greenberg is not representing Crimo on the murder charges, he is being represented by high-profile defense attorney Thomas Durkin. 

Durkin told DailyMail.com that he was first contacted by the suspect's family on the day of the shooting and retained the following day.

He added that he did not have any further knowledge about the shooting other than what is already in the public domain.     

Bob Crimo Jr. and his wife, Denise, said in a brief statement: '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. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to everybody'

The family has also rejected allegations that there were red flags against their son that were a cause for concern

Bob Crimo Jr. and his wife, Denise, said in a brief statement: '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. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to everybody'

The suspect's father Bob Jr. ran unsuccessfully for mayor against Nancy Rotering. Rotering ran on a platform that included promoting gun control. 

On Tuesday morning, Rotering confirmed that Crimo 'legally obtained' his weapon. She said she taught him when he was a cub scout, and that he was a normal 'little boy'. Police are yet to confirm what type of weapon he used, but witnesses and videos suggest it was a high-powered rifle. 

'It's one of those situations where you stand back and ask, what happened? How did somebody become this angry, this hateful, to then take it out on innocent people who were just literally having a family day out.? 

'He was just a little boy,' she said. 

 The charges were announced in a press conference by the Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart the day after the July 4 parade shooting that claimed the lives of seven people and injured dozens more. 

Each charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison without the chance of parole. 

In his remarks, Rinehart said that Crimo could be facing nearly a dozen further charges, including assault and attempted murder. 

He said: 'These are the first of many charges.' 

During the press conference, Rinehart did not speculate on the motive for the shooting. 

The attorney did praise red flag laws and called for a nationwide ban on assault rifles.  

He added that when Crimo makes his first appearance in court via Zoom on July 6, prosecutors will be asking for the suspect to be held without bail.   

Crimo's father Bob Sr. was cornered by police as he arrives at home on Tuesday

Crimo's father Bob Sr. was cornered by police as he arrives at home on Tuesday 

Speaking about the 2019 incidents, Chris Covelli of the Lake County Sheriff's Office disclosed the prior incidents at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon. 

In the April 2019 incident, 'an individual contacted Highland Park department a week after learning of him attempting to suicide. It was a delayed report. 

'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. 

'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.'

Bob Crimo Sr arriving home on Tuesday, talking on the phone

Bob Crimo Sr arriving home on Tuesday, talking on the phone 

Police interviewing the father of Highland Park shooter on Tuesday. He has not yet issued any public comment

Police interviewing the father of Highland Park shooter on Tuesday. He has not yet issued any public comment 

The suspect's uncle told CNN that the FBI made contact with the family around 2:30 pm on the day of the shooting

The suspect's uncle told CNN that the FBI made contact with the family around 2:30 pm on the day of the shooting

Crimo is also accused of 'sizing up' the Central Avenue Synagogue in Highland Park, Illinois, according to the Times of Israel. 

Rabbi Yosef Schanowitz is quoted by the website as saying that he recognized the suspect from an incident that occurred in April 2022. The rabbi said: 'During the last

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