Illinois shooting suspect considered second attack, US police say

The person accused of killing seven folks at a Fourth of July parade close to Chicago on Monday critically thought of a second taking pictures in one other city on the identical day, US police have mentioned.

Police mentioned that after taking pictures dozens of individuals from a roof at Highland Park in Illinois he drove throughout the state border to Wisconsin the place he got here throughout a celebration underneath method within the metropolis of Madison about 240km (150 miles) away.

Police mentioned he contemplated finishing up a second taking pictures there however determined not to take action.

Police mentioned on Wednesday that “indications are that he hadn’t put sufficient thought or analysis into it”.

The 21-year-old accused, Robert Crimo, appeared in court docket for the primary time on Wednesday. He’s going through seven counts of first-degree homicide and if convicted may face life in jail with out the potential of parole.

Prosecutors mentioned Mr Crimo had confessed to the assault in Highland Park. Nonetheless, he didn’t enter a plea on the listening to.

Lake County state’s lawyer Eric Rinehart, who’s dealing with the case towards Mr Crimo, on Wednesday forecast he would face “many extra fees”.

Mr Crimo is to stay in jail with out bail pending additional court docket appearances.

Prosecutors keep that Mr Crimo fired about 80 rounds from a high-powered rifle into the gang watching the independence day parade at Highland Park, a suburb of about 30,000 folks about 40km from Chicago.

Authorities maintained Mr Crimo reloaded his weapon thrice in the course of the assault on the parade.

Prosecutors mentioned Mr Crimo had advised police that he had dressed like a lady and coated his tattoos with make-up “as a result of folks would recognise him”.

Seven folks died within the assault and dozens extra had been wounded.

Among the many useless had been Irina and Kevin McCarthy, the mom and father of a two-year-old youngster who that they had delivered to the parade.

The boy, Aiden McCarthy, was protected by his father’s physique from the gunfire however was later discovered strolling alone on the street and was sorted by a pair who discovered him.

Christopher Covelli, deputy chief of the Lake County sheriff’s workplace, advised a press convention that investigators had some data “that it seems when [Mr Crimo] drove to Madison, he was driving round, nonetheless, he did see a celebration that was occurring in Madison, and he critically contemplated utilizing the firearm he had in his automobile to commit one other taking pictures in Madison”.

“We don’t have data to recommend he deliberate to drive to Madison initially to commit one other assault. We do imagine he was driving round following the primary assault and noticed the celebration,” he mentioned.

It emerged on Tuesday that Mr Crimo had come to the eye of police on two events in 2019, which has led to questions on how he subsequently legally bought 5 weapons, together with two rifles.

Police mentioned that they had confiscated a group of 16 knives and a sword from Mr Crimo in 2019 after experiences he had made threatening feedback to relations.

On Tuesday, Mr Covelli mentioned police had been advised by a member of the family in September 2019 that Mr Crimo had knives and had mentioned he was “going to kill everyone”.

Authorities on Tuesday mentioned the accused man’s father, Robert Crimo jnr, had sponsored his son’s software for a gun allow months after the menace to “kill everybody” had been made.

This was disputed by a lawyer representing the accused man’s household.