Robert Crimo Jr: Highland Park shooter's dad charged with reckless conduct for helping son buy firearms

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Bobby legally purchased at least five guns with his new firearms license, including the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 he’s accused of using to fire more than 80 rounds during the mass shooting. He is facing 117 charges in the parade massacre that killed seven people and injured dozens more. Initially, his father stated that he reportedly didn’t regret sponsoring his son for a FOID (Firearm Owners Identification) card which allowed him to buy weapons legally. 

The entire ordeal was described as a "nightmare" by Crimo Jr, adding that he and his family were just as dismayed because he believed his son was raised with good morals. “You know, I'm just in upheaval. Of everything. Emotions. I mean, it's just, it's numbing and I don't know how else to explain it. Like I'm in a bad dream right now,” he said back in July. “As a father, I pretty much lost a son," as per the news outlet. He reportedly ran for Highland Park mayor in April 2019 and lost. 

As per the police records, the  Highland Park Police Department determined that Bobby posed “clear and present danger” after a family member claimed that he threatened to “kill everyone” in September 2019. “Making threats to the family - I think it’s taken on a context where it's like just a child's outburst, whatever he was upset about,” said Crimo Jr. He sponsored his son’s under-21 firearm owner's ID card three months later which was approved by Illinois State Police and renewed when Bobby turned 21, as per reports.

“Guilty, no. He did it all on his own", said Crimo Jr when asked if he felt guilty about sponsoring his son. “I filled out the consent form to allow my son to go through the process that the Illinois State Police have in place for an individual to obtain a FOID card. Like that's all it was, a consent form to allow my son to go through the process. They do background checks.”

Twitter users were also delighted to see Robert Crimo Jr getting hit with seven counts of reckless conduct. One user tweeted, "Finally... This, you guys need this to happen more often... (Or, you know, enact common sense guns laws like any other countries have...)" Another said, "I have long said, if a shooter uses his Grandfather’s, Father’s, Uncle’s, cousins’s gun, etc. that family member needs to go to jail. They are responsible as well. Yes, there will be exceptions but in principal, this needs to happen!"

A user said, "This is a good first step. People who sponsor other peoples ownership of guns need to really think about it before they sign that sponsorship. They need to be held responsible absolutely" while another added, "Good…he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, no charge reductions, no plea deals." "Yes! I live in Highland Park and this guy flagrantly lied and jeopardized everyone's safety because of his lies" tweeted one user. 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.