Photo Credit: AP.
The man
suspected of carrying out a deadly July 4th Independence Day parade shooting in
suburban Chicago has been indicted for murder on 21 first-degree murder counts,
48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery, The Associated
Press reported.
Seven people were killed and dozens wounded in the mass shooting.
Prosecutors
had filed seven murder charges against Robert E. Crimo III and announced Wednesday
that the grand jury had indicted the suspected shooter on 117 felony charges,
according to The Associated Press.
Prosecutors
said Crimo, 21, admitted to the shooting when police arrested him following an
horslong search on July 4.
According to
The Associated Press, under Illinois law, prosecutors can ask a grand jury to
determine whether there is probable cause to proceed to trial. Proceedings by
Grand jury are not open to the public and defense attorneys cannot
cross-examine witnesses.
July 4 mass shooter faces multiple first-degree murder charges
The multiple
first-degree murder charges allege Crimo intended to kill, caused death or
bodily harm and took action with a strong probability of causing death or great
bodily harm on the seven people who died.
Prosecutors
said Wednesday that the 48 attempted murder counts and 48 counts of aggravated
battery with a firearm represent “each victim who was struck by a bullet,
bullet fragment, or shrapnel,” according to The Associated Press.
“I want to
thank law enforcement and the prosecutors who presented evidence to the grand
jury today,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said in a statement,
according to The Associated Press. “Our investigation continues, and our victim
specialists are working around the clock to support all those affected by this
crime that led to 117 felony counts being filed.”
The attack
took place in Highland Park, an affluent community of about 30,000 on Chicago’s
north shore.
Highland
Park is a close-knit community on the shores of Lake Michigan.