Went to Lake County Courthouse this past Wednesday to witness the bond hearing of Robert E. Crimo III, the man charged with killing 7 people and injuring directly and/or indirectly two dozen more people in a shooting rampage at a July 4th parade in Highland Park, IL.
I did the drawing of Crimo, (who has confessed to the shooting and the intention to shoot more in Madison, Wisc. immediately afterwards), as I was taking the train to the courthouse. Having been in court a number of times in the past few weeks, defendants are given the option of appearing in court or by Zoom virtual hearings due to Covid. Many are choosing Zoom. So I anticipated I wouldn’t see him.
Upon arriving, I had to go and sit with about 10 people, mostly press, in the room adjacent to the court, which was separated by large glass windows.
When Crimo appeared as one of several small images on the video in the press/visitors room, he was asked if he had legal representation, to which he answered,”No.”
He was then assigned counsel who asked to meet with him briefly.
Upon returning after 5 minutes, the counsel apologized to the judge saying he would be unable to give Crimo legal counsel due to a conflict of interest.
The judge moved things forward by denying Crimo bond and assigned a date for arraignment and said that given the severity and number of crimes, if convicted he would serve life without possibility of parole.
First image, Drawn on train from a photograph, Crimo.
Second sketch, Chicago Sun Times reporter Manny Ramos and NBC correspondent Emily.
Third sketch, two unidentified journalist at the bond hearing.
Fourth sketch, out in front of the courthouse after the hearing. Lake County Deputy Sheriff Chris Corelli answers questions from forty some journalist and three times that many mics, cameras, and cell phones.
A very, very somber day.
