Suspected Highland Park mass shooter Robert Crimo III rejects plea deal

The mass shooter accused of gunning down seven people during the 2022 Highland Park Fourth of July parade rejected a plea deal Wednesday in front of shocked survivors and family members.

Robert Crimo III, 23, initially agreed to plead guilty to seven counts of murder and 48 other charges in exchange for life in prison.

However, at the last minute, Crimo abruptly pulled out of the deal, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The 23-year-old appeared in a wheelchair, sporting a “47” facial tattoo, which experts previously speculated could be the date of the mass shooting (7/4) in towards.

Crimo, who was charged with more than 100 counts after opening fire on a crowd of spectators during a parade in the upscale Chicago suburb, remained silent in court after deputies brought him in a wheelchair.

It was the first time he appeared in court in a wheelchair. Authorities did not say the reason for using the mobility device.

When asked about the plea deal, Crimo remained silent, with his attorneys requesting a break to discuss the deal.

After Crimo and his defense team returned, the alleged mass murderer simply said “no” to the plea deal, with the judge setting his trial for February 25, 2025.

The sudden change came as a shock to the victims and their families, who were prepared to testify about how the shooting affected them before Judge Victoria Rossetti handed down her sentence.

“We came to court today hoping we could put this behind us,” Leah Sundheim, the daughter of murdered victim Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63, told reporters outside the courthouse.

“We have July 4th coming up and it will be two years and all I wanted to do was completely mourn my mother without a trial, knowing he was going to spend the rest of his life in prison,” Leah added.

“And instead, he was shown, once again, his complete and blatant disregard for humans.”

Wednesday's abrupt change is not the first time Crimo has left the courtroom confused by a sudden shift in his defense strategy.

Last year, Crimo chose to represent himself in court, but after Rossetti reminded him of the hurdles of being his own lawyer, the suspect reversed his decision in December.

Crimo's latest turnaround means he will face all 117 charges in court related to the horrific shooting, where prosecutors alleged Crimo climbed on top of a downtown Highland Park store and had opened fire on civilians with a high-powered rifle.

In addition to the seven people killed, 48 people, including a paralyzed 8-year-old boy, were injured.

Police said Crimo dressed as a woman to escape amid the panicked crowd, heading to Wisconsin before returning to Illinois the next day.

Officials claimed Crimo “seriously considered” another mass shooting at a Fourth of July celebration in Madison, Wisconsin, before turning around.

Nearly two years after his arrest, Crimo has remained silent, his motives unknown.

Investigators had previously reported Crimo's strange obsession with the numbers 4 and 7, which he tattooed on the right side of his face.

Although officials have not specified the significance of these numbers, many have speculated that they played a role in Crimo's decision to attack on July 4, since its date is July 4.