Suspected Highland Park parade gunman traveled to Wisconsin after the shooting

Drake Bentley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·2 min read
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The suspected Highland Park, Illinois, parade gunman traveled to the Madison area following the shooting, authorities said at a Tuesday news conference.

Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office told the media: "I don't want to get into how we know he was in Wisconsin, but we know he traveled to the Madison area, before turning around and coming back to Illinois."

The statement confirmed part of a report from the Chicago NBC TV affiliate that the alleged gunman, Robert E. Crimo III, 21, traveled to Madison to drop off his phone to throw authorities off his trail. Covelli did not immediately provide a reason for Crimo's decision to head to Madison.

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Crimo is accused of killing seven people and injuring at least 46 at the Highland Park Fourth of July parade. He was taken into custody more than 8 hours after the shootings about five miles from the shooting. Madison is a little over 2 hours away from Highland Park.

Shortly after reports of gunfire at the parade, Highland Park police described Crimo as a "person of interest" in the shooting, and he was considered "armed and dangerous."

At a news conference Tuesday evening in Highland Park, Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart announced that Crimo has been charged with seven counts of first-degree murder, adding that "dozens" more charges will follow.

Covelli was asked at the same conference to provide details on Crimo's travel to Wisconsin, he declined to do so. "We do know he went on a drive following the events. But, as to why, that's not something I can get into right now," he said.

Contact Drake Bentley at (414) 391-5647 or DBentley1@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DrakeBentleyMJS.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Suspected Highland Park parade gunman traveled to Wisconsin afterward