Lawyers say accused shooter in July 4, 2022 parade denied lawyer during police interview

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) — The man accused of killing seven people at a Independence Day 2022 parade in suburban Chicago was denied his constitutional right to legal representation when he was questioned by police hours after the shooting, lawyers argued in court Thursday.

Authorities have said Robert Crimo III confessed to the shooting, which also wounded dozens. But his lawyers want the statements he made to police to be videotaped to avoid the trial, which is expected to start in February.

The nearly three-hour hearing offered a glimpse of the evidence expected at trial, including police testimony, photographs and video footage of statements Crimo made to police.

Crimo, 24, has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including multiple counts of first-degree murder. He said nothing during Thursday’s hearing. Wearing dark blue prison overalls, he walked into the courtroom and flashed two fingers around the room, which is often interpreted as a sign of “victory” or “peace.”

Defense attorneys said Crimo’s relatives retained an attorney who was waiting in the police station lobby the night of the shooting, but police did not allow Crimo to meet with him.

“He is never told that he has an attorney, an attorney retained for him,” public defender Greg Ticsay said in court. ‘Obviously he was never given access. They violated his due process rights.”

But prosecutors strongly dismissed the charges, saying Crimo willingly cooperated after he was offered phone calls, notified the attorney in the lobby and had his Miranda rights read multiple times.

“He knew why he was there. He knew what they were going to question him about,” Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Jeff Facklam said. “He knew what right he was giving up.”

Prosecutors showed video clips of the police interrogation. Crimo was asked several times if he understood his Miranda rights, including the right to remain silent and have an attorney present.

“I can read them to you by heart,” Crimo said on the tape.

Lake County Circuit Court Judge Victoria Rossetti said she would issue a written ruling at a later date.

The case has been going slowly for months, partly due to Crimo’s unpredictable behavior.

He failed to show up for two previous hearings and refused to leave his cell at the Lake County Jail. At a hearing in June, he was expected to accept and give a plea deal victims and family members a chance to address him publicly, he changed course and rejected the agreement. He too fired his public defenders and said he would represent himself. Then he abruptly has turned itself around.

Dozens were injured in the shooting, including an 8-year-old boy who was left behind partially paralyzed. Witnesses described initial confusion when the shots started, followed by panic as families fled the parade route through downtown Highland Park, an affluent suburb of about 30,000 near Lake Michigan.

Those killed in the attack were Katherine Goldstein, 64; Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63; Stephen Straus, 88; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; and Eduardo Uvaldo, 69; and married couple Kevin McCarthy, 37, and Irina McCarthy, 35.