Highland Park Shooting: Suspect Robert Crimo III Planned Attack for "Several Weeks," Bought High-Powered Rifle Legally

The attack on a suburban Fourth of July parade outside of Chicago was planned "for several weeks," according to the authorities, who also revealed that Robert Crimo III, the 21-year-old who carried it out tried to hide his identity by dressing as a woman before merging in with the people fleeing the bloodshed.

The shooting spree in Highland Park, Illinois, left six people dead and scores more injured, drove scared partygoers fleeing for cover, and sparked an hours-long manhunt.

Highland Park Shooting Suspect Disguised as Woman in a Wig

Police identified the shooter as Robert Crimo III, a resident of the adjacent town of Highwood, Illinois. He was arrested shortly after the incident, but as of Tuesday at noon, no charges had been brought against him.

According to Christopher Covelli, a spokesperson for the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, at a news briefing on Tuesday, the assailant transported "a high-powered rifle" to the roof of a shop overlooking the procession during the shooting and fired more than 70 bullets from there.

According to Covelli, the attacker may have disguised himself by dressing as a woman in order to hide his identity and facial tattoos and join the fleeing parade viewers. Covelli said the strategy appeared to be successful since the shooter really vanished into the masses, The Washington Post reported.

The suspect reportedly borrowed a car from his mother, who resided close by, at that point, according to Covelli. He was caught Monday night after being publicly named by officials along with the car he was driving, and when another driver spotted it and dialed 911.

Robert Crimo Adores Violent Videos

The 21-year-old often uploaded unsettling and violent films, including one showing a beheading, on several sites. In one of his music videos, the amateur rapper known by the stage name "Awake the Rapper" praised death and glamourized school shootings, which led to the shooter being killed by police.

Additionally, there is the mysterious fascination with the number 47, which represents the date of July 4 when written backwards. Then, on the morning of July 4, it appears that this fascination with violence left the internet world and moved into the real lives of the good-hearted families, friends, and neighbors who had come out to witness the parade.

There are now critical inquiries being directed at law enforcement, tech corporations, and even those close to the suspect regarding whether significant warning signs were ignored before to the assault.

His music videos on YouTube under the rap name Awake the Rapper, which promote mass murder and school massacres, are among the frightening internet posts that have followed him.

In one music video, Robert Crimo is filmed in a school's classroom. He has his feet up on a desk and is rapping "running out of time" continuously. He eventually reaches into his backpack, which is lying on the floor next to his desk, with one hand, as per The Independent.

As creepy laughing can be heard in the background, the video quickly turns to footage of him in the same classroom while wearing tactical gear and a black helmet. The figure who resembles Robert Crimo is depicted laying dead in a pool of blood and is surrounded by highly armed law officers in another animated film named "Toy Soldier." Robert Crimo's Spotify profile had more than 16,000 monthly listeners until the network removed his content.

Robert Crimo III's uncle is expressing regret for the horrific act on July Fourth and says he is "deeply, deeply sorry." The 21-year-old resided in a separate apartment at the back of the neighborhood, according to Paul Crimo, who claimed to live with his alleged killer nephew's father and his nephew.

Per NY Post, Paul Crimo claimed to be well-known in the neighborhood together with his brother Robert Crimo Jr., who unsuccessfully campaigned for mayor of Highland Park in 2019.

According to Paul Crimo, there were no foreshadowing indicators prior to the horrific shooting. He claimed to have last seen his nephew late on Sunday. Paul Crimo claimed that his nephew was a "YouTube rapper" who didn't attend college and who enjoyed sketching but kept to himself. According to the report, he had previously worked at Panera but had recently been unemployed.