North Cook News

State Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) offered his condolences to those affected by the recent shooting in Highland Park that left seven people dead and dozens injured.

On July 4, Highland Park residents were joined together for a parade when a man on a rooftop began firing into the crowd, a Wednesday report from WLS said. A person of interest, Robert "Bobby" Crimo III, age 22, roamed freely for approximately eight hours after the shooting until law enforcement took him into custody in Lake Forest.

"We grieve with the family and friends of victims of this senseless act of violence in Highland Park today,” Morrison said in an early Tuesday Facebook post. “We must condemn all violent and evil acts, whether in quiet suburbs or in the city of Chicago - on a holiday or any day of the week. Those who prey upon the innocent and terrorize our streets or other gatherings must be brought to justice. We are incredibly grateful for our law enforcement and medical professionals for their rapid and effective response. May God have mercy, comfort grieving families and communities, and bring healing to our land."

Authorities believe the attack had been premeditated for several weeks, a Tuesday NPR report said. Crimo is thought to have gained access to the roof of a business by climbing a fire escape ladder. He then opened fire, shooting more than 70 rounds of ammunition at parade-goers. 

"This is a terribly difficult day, and the bloodiest that we have experienced in Highland Park," Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering said in a statement. "We are fortunate to be supported by our law enforcement community and Federal, State, County and local government officials who have all offered resources as we work to apprehend the perpetrator and protect Highland Park and nearby communities. ... Our community, like so many before us, is devastated. It’s impossible to imagine the pain of this kind of tragedy until you’re confronted with it. Gun violence - a mass shooting such as this casts a much wider net of agony than what the public is typically exposed to; it’s a crisis that devastates entire families and communities in a single moment and we know will take time to heal. 

“Again, I want to extend my thanks to the people and resources who are moving this investigation forward and we all look forward to bringing this individual to justice. On behalf of the City of Highland Park, our hearts are broken for the victims and their families. As we always do, we will support each other. We are Highland Park strong."

Crimo is a rapper who goes by the name Awake the Rapper, a report from Axios said. Videos on his YouTube channel, all of which have since been taken down, showed images of mass murders.

"Today, I ask all Illinoisans to pray for the families who have been devastated by the evil unleashed this morning in Highland Park, for those who have lost loved ones and for those who have been injured," Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) said in a statement. "I also ask that we all pray for our first responders at all levels of government who are actively working to bring the suspect into custody, and whose bravery undoubtedly saved innocent lives on the scene. There are no words for the kind of monster who lies in wait and fires into a crowd of families with children celebrating a holiday with their community. There are no words for the kind of evil that robs our neighbors of their hopes, their dreams, their futures. 

“There are no words I can offer to lift the pain of those they leave behind. Please know that our state grieves with you, that MK and I grieve with you. But grief will not bring the victims back, and prayers alone will not put a stop to the terror of rampant gun violence in our country. I will stand firm with Illinoisans and Americans: we must - and we will - end this plague of gun violence."