Before Nancy Rothering became mayor of Highland Park, she served her suburban community in another way: as a Cub Scout leader. One member of her squad was Robert “Bobby” Crimo III, the alleged shooter accused of opening fire on the Fourth of July parade, killing seven residents and injuring at least 30 others.
“I hadn’t seen him in probably 15 years. But, you know, at the time I knew him, he was a little boy,” the mayor said Thursday in an interview with ABC News Live. “I’m not sure what happened in his life that brought him to this point.”
The mayor noted that despite Highland Park’s relatively strict gun laws, the suspect was able to travel outside of his hometown to legally purchase a firearm.
“He didn’t buy that gun in Highland Park,” she said. “We need better laws everywhere, not just in the state of Illinois, but across our nation.”
Vice President Kamala Harris, left, walks with Highland Park, Illinois Mayor Nancy Rothering as Harris arrives to visit the site of the mass shooting at the Highland Park July 4th parade, in Highland Park, Illinois, July 5, 2022.
hris Sweda/Chicago Tribune via Getty Images
Rotering said she attended her first vigil Wednesday night, hours after Crimo appeared in court for the first time. Authorities say he confessed to the massacre and that he was considering another attack the same day in Madison, Wisconsin.
Authorities said he “didn’t do enough planning” and decided not to go ahead with the attack in Wisconsin.
Crimo is charged with seven counts of first-degree murder, and Lake County District Attorney Eric Rinehart said more charges are pending.
The mayor said that while she believes the suspect deserves life behind bars, she is “not sure there will ever be justice in this case.”
The flag hangs at half-staff as Police Chief Louis Jogman and Mayor Nancy Rothering look on as Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Lake County Major Crimes Task Force speaks to the media during a news conference outside the Highland Park Police Department , Illinois, July 5, 2022.
Ashley Rezin/AP
As funerals for the victims begin soon, and as many remain in the hospital being treated for serious gunshot wounds, she describes her suburban neighborhood outside of Chicago as completely devastated.
Rotering said this massacre has taken a toll on the mental health of the entire city, especially those who witnessed the attack and are grieving loved ones.
“Every time I walk down the street, we hug each other, we cry. People are rallying around what is still an active investigation, saying it has caused such an incredibly deep wound to the heart of our community,” she said. “No city should have to go through this.”
The mayor, who led the parade, said the holiday will now always be remembered as a day of tragedy. She said that until there is change at the national level, many more celebrations will turn violent.
“We are a small ship in an ocean with many weapons,” she said. “This country needs to have a real reckoning: Is this how we really want to remember our Independence Day?” Like a day of carnage and gun violence? Because this will be brought up every Fourth of July from now on.”
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