Highland Park parade shooting suspect Robert Crimo lll pleads guilty
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The Illinois man  pleaded guilty on Monday, marking a sudden end to his murder trial just as it was getting started.

Robert Crimo III, 24, pleaded guilty to all 69 counts of murder and attempted murder stemming from the mass shooting that left seven people dead and wounded nearly 50 others.

The surprise announcement came after  and just as the courtroom was expecting to hear opening statements. It's unclear what led Crimo to change his plea. Neither the Lake County State's Attorney's office nor the public defender's office representing Crimo immediately returned USA TODAY's requests for comment.

The judge scheduled a sentencing hearing on April 23. Crimo is expected to receive a life sentence without the possibility of parole, as Illinois abolished the death penalty in 2011.

This is not the first time Crimo has made an unexpected reversal. Last year, Crimo agreed to plead guilty to multiple counts of first-degree murder and battery charges, but during a court hearing in June, he changed his mind and pleaded not guilty, compelling the judge to set a trial date.

Outside the courtroom on Monday, Ashley Beasley, who was at the parade with her son when the shooting broke out, told reporters she felt an "immense amount of relief" when she heard Crimo pleaded guilty.

"I think there is a huge collective feeling of relief," she said. "Our community wanted justice."

[](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/03/03/robert-crimo-highland-park-parade-mass-shooting-guilty-updates/81154909007/)

Source: Fox - 32 Chicago

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