Dad of Accused July 4 Parade Shooter Pleads Guilty to Charges Linked to Getting Son a Gun License

The father of the suspected Highland Park shooter made a deal with prosecutors Monday, just as his misdemeanor reckless conduct trial was due to begin.

Robert Crimo Jr. pleaded guilty to seven counts relating to helping his son, Robert Crimo III, get a gun license before a mass shooting at a July 4 parade in 2022 in Illinois.

Judge George Strickland sentenced Crimo Jr. to 60 days in jail following the plea.

In 2019, at age 19, Crimo III was too young to apply for his own gun license, but he could apply with the sponsorship of a parent or guardian. His father sponsored his application, even though just months earlier a relative reported to police that Crimo III had a collection of knives and had threatened to “kill everyone.”

Crimo Jr.'s attorney, George Gomez, had called the felony charges, which can carry a prison term of up to three years, “baseless and unprecedented.”

Crimo III faces 21 first-degree murder counts, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery. Prosecutors say he admitted he was the gunman when he was arrested hours after the shooting in Highland Park.

A trial date is expected to be set at a hearing in December.

Anti-gun violence advocates say they are encouraged that police and prosecutors are investigating anyone who may have contributed to the attack. But legal experts say criminal liability can be hard to prove against a shooter's parent or guardian. More often, they face civil lawsuits where legal standards of proof are less stringent.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.