Police records and interviews with people who knew Crimo paint a portrait of a troubled young man who grew up in a troubled home.
Crimo, 21, who's charged with killing seven people and wounding dozens of others in a mass shooting at the suburb's Fourth of July parade, dropped out of Highland Park High School before his junior year.
RELATED: New Crimo family attorney confident accused parade shooter's parents won't face any criminal charges In 2002, when Crimo wasn't yet 2 years old, his mother Denise Pesina left him unattended in a car with the windows rolled up on a hot August day for almost half an hour in a parking lot in Highland Park, court records show. She pleaded guilty to a charge of child endangerment and was ordered to undergo an evaluation at a child advocacy center, the records show.
Often, the police reports show, alcohol appeared to be involved in the couple's difficulties. In their reports, officers said they recommended they go through marital counseling or separate. They no longer live together. Michele Rebollar says her sons were friends with Crimo for a time in their teens. She remembers him sitting on a couch at their home and not talking to anyone.
RELATED: Accused parade shooter's dad says he doesn't regret sponsoring FOID card, says system needs overhaul Authorities say he also bought four other weapons: a Remington 700 bolt-action rifle, a foldable Kel-Tec Sub 2000 rifle, a shotgun and a Glock handgun. "He goes, 'Yeah, that guy is an idiot.' That's what he said!" the newspaper quoted Crimo's father recalling his son saying of the Denmark shooter.
Even with Crimo's history, it's not as if Absler or anyone else could have predicted that one day he'd be accused of mass murder, experts say.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why Illinois' gun laws did not stop the Highland Park shooter from buying weaponsThe gunman accused of killing seven people at an Independence Day parade in Chicago's Highland Park suburb obtained a firearms license just months after police investigated alleged threats he made to kill his family. That has raised questions about why the state's comparatively strict gun laws - including a 'red flag' statute and a license requirement - did not prevent him from buying five weapons. Police had two prior encounters with the suspected shooter, Robert Crimo, now 21.
Read more »
8-Year-Old Highland Park Victim Had Spinal Cord SeveredCooper Roberts is believed to be paralyzed from the waist down; his brother and mother were also injured in the July 4 shooting.
Read more »
Taste of Chicago steps up security after Highland Park parade shootingIn the wake of the Highland Park parade shooting where seven people were killed and dozens more injured, nerves are running high for other big community events.
Read more »
'Enough': Grief and outrage converge at vigil for Highland Park shooting victimsHighland Park, Illinois businesses are beginning to reopen as the community turns from shock to grief after 7 were killed in a July 4 parade shooting.
Read more »
Everything We Know About the Highland Park ShootingThe shooter fled the scene, prompting a citywide search, and a suspect, Robert “Bobby” E. Crimo III, was arrested hours later. He has been charged with seven counts of first-degree murder
Read more »