Highland Park shooting suspect Robert Crimo III elects to defend himself

The man accused of gunning down seven people last year at a July 4th parade in Highland Park, Illinois has decided to represent himself in his upcoming trial — now scheduled for February following the development.

Robert Crimo III, 23, dismissed his public defenders during a court appearance Monday and declared his intent to defend himself.

After making his declaration, Judge Victoria Rossetti repeatedly asked Crimo whether he understood the implications of his decision — pointing out the considerable amount of paperwork alone he would be required to file, along with the multiple life-sentences he faced if found guilty.

Crimo, clad in red prison garb and with his black hair grown past his shoulders, said he understood and wished to proceed.

Rossetti pushed her case, asking Crimo if he had any legal education and advising him to change his decision.

The suspect responded that he’d once been an observer in a courtroom, and that he’d only ever received a high school education.

“You will be representing yourself,” Rosetti eventually conceded. She then agreed to move the trial date a year forward from the initially planned time frame.

Crimo faces 21 counts of first degree murder, along with 48 accounts of both attempted murder and aggravated battery stemming from the shooting rampage he allegedly carried out in July 2022.

Then 21 years old, Crimo allegedly positioned himself on the roof of a building overlooking the Highland Park parade and fired indiscriminately into the crowd. In addition to the seven people killed, 48 people — children included — were injured.

Prosecutors say he admitted to committing the massacre after police arrested him following an extensive manhunt.

His father, Robert Crimo Jr., was sentenced to 60 days in prison in November after pleading guilty to misdemeanors of reckless conduct for helping his son obtain a gun license in 2019 despite having made threats of violence.

With Post wires