The suspect in a mass shooting that opened fire on a crowd at a 2022 Independence Day parade in Highland Park, killing seven people and wounding dozens, has backed away from a plea deal that would have spared survivors the trauma of testifying in court.
Robert Climo III, 23, initially pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of first-degree murder, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated assault in August 2022. He has remained incarcerated in the Lake County Jail since then, according to online records.
If Climo pleaded guilty to seven reduced counts of first-degree murder and 48 counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, Lake County prosecutors offered to dismiss the remaining charges against him.
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Robert E. Climo III, left, speaks with Lake County Assistant Public Defender Anton Trizna during a hearing before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Illinois, on June 26, 2024. Climo is charged with killing seven people and wounding dozens in a 2022 shooting at a Fourth of July parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park. (Photo by Nam Y. Phu Pool/Getty Images)
Climo’s attorney initially said his client would accept the deal during a court date Wednesday morning, Fox 32 Chicago reported, but Climo did not directly respond when asked by Judge Victoria Rossetti if he had reviewed the deal with his attorneys.
For unknown reasons, the shooting suspect, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, was taken out of the room in his wheelchair for a break.
When he returned, he said he would not accept the plea deal, Fox 32 reported.
Climo’s tentative trial date is set for Feb. 24, 2025. Wednesday’s incident came nearly a week before the Fourth of July, the second anniversary of Climo’s shooting spree at Highland Park’s Independence Day parade.
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Defense attorney Robert Climo initially said his client would accept a plea deal, but when he was wheeled out of the courtroom during a recess, Climo, who was in a wheelchair for unknown reasons, denied the plea deal. (Photo by Nam Y. Phu Pool/Getty Images)
“A lot has happened. It’s been a busy week. Independence Day is coming up soon,” Highland Park resident Ashby Beasley told Fox 32. “I think any time there’s a hearing, there’s a lot of emotions that come up.”
Attorney Mike Bonamarte, who represents the three people injured in the shooting, told Fox 32 his clients were among the victims contacted by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office about a possible change to the plea agreement on Wednesday.
“All three were shot in the legs and suffered varying degrees of injury. Zoe broke her femur, underwent multiple surgeries and was off work for an extended period of time. She is a teacher in Chicago. She has now returned to work, but under conditions,” Bonamarte, a managing partner at Levin & Perconti, told the outlet.
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Highland Park shooting suspect Robert Climo III has pleaded not guilty to shooting and killing seven people and wounding dozens more during a Fourth of July parade in the town about an hour north of Chicago. (Jim Vondruska)
Ahead of Wednesday’s trial, Bonamarte said the plea agreements could provide some peace of mind for his clients.
“But as you can imagine, the emotional distress that these three experienced continues to this day,” Bonamarte said.
Beasley, who escaped the shooting with his family two years ago, said before the hearing that pleading guilty was an opportunity to “close the door and really focus on healing.”
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Robert Climo pleaded not guilty Aug. 3 to 117 charges alleging his involvement in the shooting that left seven people dead and dozens injured during a Fourth of July parade. (Distributed by The Associated Press/Lake County Major Crimes Unit)
“I think it’s everyone’s hope that he’s in prison and knows he can never hurt anyone else,” Beasley said.
The city of Highland Park will host a series of events that city officials say will “balance the diverse needs within the community by providing a space for remembrance and a welcoming atmosphere.” [Fourth of July] tradition.”
In Illinois, a defendant convicted of first-degree murder involving at least two different people can automatically be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
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“The law is a complex issue,” said Monu Bedi, a professor at DePaul University’s School of Law. WBEZ Chicago Climo’s lawyers were likely considering a plea deal because if convicted, that would be their client’s only chance for eventual release.
“By pleading guilty instead, the defence would have the opportunity to avoid an automatic life sentence and present extenuating evidence, such as mental health issues or family issues, that could persuade the judge to impose something less than life imprisonment,” Bedi told the outlet, acknowledging that the number of victims and the allegedly planned nature of the attacks made it unlikely that a judge would impose anything less than a life sentence.
