Accused Highland Park Parade Shooter Bobby Crimo To Represent Himself

WAUKEGAN, IL — The man accused of carrying out the bloodiest mass shooting in state history is set to act as his own attorney during a trial scheduled to begin in February.

Bobby Crimo, 23, faces mandatory life in prison if convicted of just a few of the 117 felony counts he faces for allegedly opening fire at the 2022 Highland Park 4th of July parade, killing seven paradegoers and wounding nearly 50 others.

Since his arrest, which followed an hourslong manhunt, Crimo has been represented by the Lake County public defender's office. But on Monday, he informed Lake County Circuit Judge Victoria Rossetti that he wanted to ditch his court-appointed representative and proceed as his own attorney.

Rossetti asked Crimo a series of questions to determine whether he understood the potential penalties he faces for a conviction and the fact that he would not receive any special assistance from the court.

In his answers, Crimo disclosed that he had previously been in court "as an observer," but had never attended any college or law school.

Prosecutors and Crimo's public defenders had agreed to a trial date in February 2025. But Crimo's first move as his attorney led to its abrupt rescheduling.

Crimo invoked his constitutional right to a speedy trial — a move that his public defenders had declined to do in previous hearings — leading the trial date to be moved forward by a year.

The accused parade shooter is now due to stand trial starting on Feb. 26, 2024.

Any pretrial motions he wants to file will have to be submitted by Jan. 5, and he is due back in court Jan. 10.

Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart issues a statement after the hearing declaring that prosecutors from his office would be ready for trial in 11 weeks.

"Our victim specialists have been in constant communication with the victims and their families throughout the case and will continue to do so," Rinehart said.

"Our office has no comment [regarding] the defendant's legal representation."

Related: Bob Crimo Threatened With Contempt Over Shirt As He Reports To Jail