Highland Park shooter sentenced, but not before he made this bizarre request in court: Give me back my books

In a dramatic courtroom scene, an Illinois judge sentenced Robert Crimo III, the man responsible for the tragic mass shooting at the Highland Park Fourth of July parade in 2022, to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. However, before the sentencing, Crimo made an unexpected plea: He asked the judge to return his confiscated books.

Crimo was not in court when the sentence was read, and his request puzzled many in the courtroom. Authorities confiscated his books in part of a series of disciplinary actions taken against him during his time in custody. In September 2023, Judge Victoria Rossetti revoked Crimo’s access to phones, tablets, and the internet after he made unauthorized communications, including a prank call to a New York Post reporter. 

Authorities partially lifted Crimo’s restrictions in April 2024, but certain privileges, including access to specific reading materials, remained limited due to concerns about his behavior and the content of the materials. Crimo was not present at his sentencing hearing and passed along his request to return his books in a note to the judge, NBC Chicago reported.

Erratic behaviors marked Crimo’s trial

Robert Crimo III, the admitted shooter in the Highland Park July 4 parade massacre, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Thursday, as a courtroom packed with survivors of the mass shooting looked on. https://t.co/lF9MK1lzJk

— WBEZ (@WBEZ) April 24, 2025

Crimo displayed other erratic behaviors during his legal proceeding beyond the note he gave the judge. In June 2024, Crimo appeared in court in a wheelchair and unexpectedly rejected a plea deal, surprising even his legal team. He dismissed his public defenders, chose to represent himself, and then reversed that decision shortly afterward. These actions contributed to delays in the trial proceedings.​

At a previous court appearance, Crimo III held an English translation of the Quran. This occurred during a case management conference at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Illinois, as reported by multiple news outlets. Authorities confiscated Crimo’s Quran, which he possibly asked the judge to return to him. The judge said she would return Crimo’s items at his April sentencing hearing. 

Closure for the victim’s families

#BREAKING: The judge gave Crimo seven sentences of life in prison without parole for each of those killed. https://t.co/7lbOUOsKsO pic.twitter.com/InWL8p2ISu

— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) April 24, 2025

The sentencing brought some closure to the victims’ families. Crimo had previously pleaded guilty to 21 counts of first-degree murder, among other charges, for the attack that left seven dead and dozens injured. Despite his final request about his books, the focus remained on the impact of his actions and the lives affected by the tragedy.

Crimo’s case also brought attention to issues surrounding gun access and parental responsibility. His father, Robert Crimo Jr., faced charges for helping his son obtain a gun license despite prior warnings about his son’s behavior. He pleaded guilty to reckless conduct in 2023 and served a brief jail sentence.

On July 4, 2022, Robert E. Crimo III fired 83 rounds from a rooftop using a legally purchased semi-automatic rifle, killing seven people and injuring 48 others at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois, the AP reported. 

The victims ranged in age from 35 to 88. A wounded 8-year-old boy was paralyzed. Crimo fled the scene. Police apprehended him later that day. He pleaded guilty in March 2025 to 21 counts of first-degree murder and 48 counts of attempted murder.