The trial of a suburban Chicago man accused of a mass shooting at a 2022 Independence Day parade that resulted in the deaths of seven people and injuries to dozens more is scheduled to commence on Monday. Robert Crimo III faces 21 counts of first-degree murder, with three counts for each individual killed, along with 48 counts of attempted murder. Prosecutors decided to drop the less serious 48 counts of aggravated battery before the commencement of jury selection last week.
The path to the trial has been marked by challenges, including delays attributed in part to Crimo's unpredictable behavior, such as his surprising rejection of a plea deal that caught his attorneys off guard. During the questioning of potential jurors last week, Crimo displayed erratic behavior, at times refusing to leave his jail cell.
