Madison PD 'Deeply Troubled' That Accused IL Gunman Debated 2nd Attack

MADISON, WI — Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said his department was "deeply troubled" to hear the accused Highland Park parade 4th of July parade shooter considered carrying out an attack in the Madison area after the shooting in Illinois on Monday.

The gunman drove from Illinois about 100 miles to the Madison area in a Honda with a rifle and about 60 rounds of ammunition, according to Chris Covelli, spokesperson for the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force. The accused shooter "seriously contemplated" another shooting in the Madison area, but he returned to Illinois seemingly because another shooting wasn't planned out enough, Covelli told reporters at a news conference Wednesday.

The shooting in Illinois left people seven dead and dozens more injured. An 8-year-old who was shot in the chest suffered a severed spine and remained on a ventilator Thursday, a representative of his family said. Nearly 40 people were injured, ranging in age from 8 to 85.

"We recognize tragedy very well could have taken place in our own community," said Madison Chief Barnes in a statement Thursday. "That reality is upsetting to all of us here in Madison, including the members of the Madison Police Department."

The FBI had told Madison police to prepare a SWAT team on Monday, just hours after the attack in Illinois, because the gunman was believed to possibly be in the area, Barnes told reporters Wednesday at a news conference, according to a report by NPR.

Barnes said at the time he was not aware of the shooter considering further attacks, the NPR report said.

So far in 2022, there have been over 300 mass shootings in America, according to Gun Violence Archive. The organization defines mass shootings as events where four people are shot or killed aside from the shooter.

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Authorities have since accused Robert "Bobby" Crimo III, 21, of Illinois in connection with the Highland Park shooting. Prosecutors charged Crimo with seven counts of first-degree murder, he was held without bond Wednesday at his initial Court appearance.

Barnes said Madison police are waiting for more information about the facts of the case from other agencies.

"Mass shootings are far too common in our country," Barnes said in the statement. "The Madison Police Department has recognized this concern for years, has trained for these incidents and has adjusted our staffing of large events accordingly."

SEE ALSO: Highland Park 4th Of July Mass Shooting: 7 Dead, Suspect Arrested