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At least six people were killed and 26 injured on Monday, July 4, after Robert Crimo, armed with a powerful rifle, opened fire from a rooftop during the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, a Chicago suburb. Highland Park Police Chief Lou Jogman has since described Crimo as "very dangerous." However, Crimo's family claims that he was a "real quiet" kid.
Robert Crimo III, the gunman in Highland Park on the Fourth of July, was a mystery to his own family, as they claimed he didn't talk much and kept to himself. His uncle, Paul Crimo, has made it known that he could not have imagined Robert’s volatility. According to Paul, Robert showed no warning signs.
"There were no signs of trouble. I saw no signs of trouble. If I did see signs, I would have said something.”
Paul Crimo, who lived with Robert’s father, told WFLD-TV that he saw Robert the evening before the latter went home. He recalled how their short conversation went:
"I said ‘hi’ to him, and when I came back downstairs, I said ‘bye,’ he said ‘bye,’ and that was it."
Paul further stated that he was heartbroken and could not believe that Robert had been the perpetrator of such a heinous crime. He said that he would forever be devastated by the incident and apologized to the victims:
“I just want to say I’m deeply, deeply sorry for everyone that lost their lives and got injured.."
While Robert's family is saying that he was a "real quiet" kid, his social media profiles paint a much darker picture. Leading up to the shooting, the youngster posted music videos online that featured ominous-sounding lyrics and animated scenes of gun violence.
Who are Robert Crimo's parents?
Crimo was born to Robert “Bob” Crimo Jr. and Denise Pesina in September 2000. The 21-year-old’s father is the owner of Bob's Pantry & Deli in Highland Park, Illinois. He is also known to have run in the 2019 mayoral race in the city.
Meanwhile, Crimo’s mother Pesina is reportedly a Mormon, according to The Ancestory. The publication further claimed that she “is a doctor of alternative medicine.” While not much is known about Denise, her LinkedIn profile states that she founded The Trilogy Energy Systems, where she currently serves as a Holistic Health Practitioner.
ABC7 Chicago reported that the suspect's parents separated in 2019 after a series of controversies.
As per multiple publications, when Robert Crimo was about two years old, his mother left him in a car for around 30 minutes on a hot day. She was charged with child endangerment and pleaded guilty to the same.
A New York Post report also stated that police frequently visited Crimo’s house between 2010 and 2014 over reported disputes between his parents. Allegedly, there had also been many instances of domestic violence, one of which included Denise Pesina striking her then-husband Robert with a shoe and a screwdriver.
Robert Crimo also has two siblings, Lynette Pesina and Sammy Crimo. The former is reportedly in her mid-20s. The family lives in a Highwood residence close to where the shooting took place.
