Highland Park July 4th Parade Attack: Will the Suspect's Parents Be Responsible?

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21-year-old Illinois-born Robert E. Climo III has killed at least seven people in the Highlands and dozens more through "Awakening Rappers". Has been accused of injuring. The July 4th Independence Day parade reportedly helped his father get his weapons.

His parents may face legal consequences. A civil lawsuit is likely, according to several lawyers who spoke with Fox News Digital on Wednesday. Criminal accusations can be difficult to prove, but they're not off the table.

"Dangerous weapons negligence can be used against them by civilians," said a New York lawyer representing the late murder suspect Brian Laundrie's parents. Steve Bertolino said. "On the criminal side, I don't know if the criminal law is equivalent to what the general public in our time wants to apply as the rule of law that binds the person responsible for the actions of others."

However, according to Los Angeles court lawyer and former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani, prosecutors should more aggressively pursue prosecution againstparents suspected of shooting. became.

Highland Park Parade Shooting Suspected "Contemplation" Second Attack, Official Claim

Illinois police said in 2019, three years before Robert Climo III was accused, Robert Climo Jr. He said he sponsored an application for his son's firearms owner identification card, firing at a parade on July 4th at Highland Park. (Facebook, Highland Park Police)

"I saw thison Crumbleys, but I think this trend will continue," he said. Said. Mentioning the parents of Ethan Cranby, a shooting suspect in the Detroit region, he provided his underage son with a pistol, killing four classmates and showing signs of mental illness before injuring seven more. He was accused of not responding.

"Legal liability will enable the concept of'reasonable predictability'," Rahmani told Fox News Digital. "We could foresee that sponsoring a firearm application for someone who threatened to kill us or others would lead to the death of others. If so, Bob Klimo was under Illinois law. May be charged with manslaughter"

Illinois policeon Tuesday, young Klimo passed four firearm background checks in the last two years Said. This includes three checks from June to July 2020.

One of his legitimate purchases According to authorities, the firearm was Smith&Wesson M&P 15 Rifle prosecutor fired from a rooftop perch to a parade spectator on Monday. Claims to have done. He dropped it on the scene at Highland Park, but allegedly had another rifle when he drove to Madison, Wisconsin, and attempted a second mass shooting that didn't happen. 

Highland Park Shooting July 4: Event Timeline

Smith&Amp; Wesson M&Amp; AR-15 style P-15 semi-automatic rifle 2022 George R in Houston, Texas on May 28, 2014. It was exhibited at the National Rifle Association's annual meeting at the Brown Convention Center.(PATRICKT via Getty Images. FALLON / AFP)

In 2019, he identified firearm owners as required by resident law in Illinois. I applied for a card (FOID). He legally possesses guns and ammunition. Applicants under the age of 21 require written parental consent. According to the

authorities, he was 19 at the time and his fatherRobert E. Crimo Jr.sponsored this application despite two police home calls earlier that year. A clear affinity for young Klimo for posting violent images online. 

Highland Park July 4th Independence Day: Who is Robert Climo?

The first incident is allegedly related to a young Klimo threatening suicide. The ISP said in a statement that the mental health worker handled the case without submitting a report to the Illinois police.

Second, he was accused of threatening to kill his family with a knife, and police confiscated knife weapons from his home, according to Chris Coveli, chief deputy chief of the Lake County's Major Criminal Task Force. did. They were returned to his father late the same day, state police said separately.

Police indicate Highland Park suspect Robert The surveillance image has been released. CLIMO III wears women's clothing, an American flag-themed gaiter mask, and headphones. (Background: Catherine Rappell, Insert: Lake County Major Crime Task Force, )

Highland Park Police said, "Clear and Present Danger. Report ”has been submitted. The state, however, "everyone, including family members, was willing to move the complaint forward," the ISP said in a statement on Tuesday.

Authorities have not provided sufficient evidence to take action on threats and mental health issues, and Kurimo has not been ordered to detain firearms. 

"At the time of the September 2019 incident, the subject had neither a FOID card to revoke nor a pending FOID application to refuse," state police said. .. "Once this decision was made, Illinois police involvement in the matter was terminated."

However, two months later, Klimo applied for a FOID card sponsored by his father. According to the ISP, there was "insufficient grounds" to reject the application. 

Highland Park On July 4, the shooting of the suspect's parents was a "problem," the former coach says

State guidelines indicate that a FOID card is not eligible for "mental health treatment for inpatients or outpatients who have been ruled by the court as a mentally ill person or have been ordered by the court, board of directors, or accreditation body. It is stipulated that it must be "done". Other disqualifications include firearm crimes or household batteries, or convictions of felony.

Therefore, under state guidelines, Climo was able to obtain a card and legally purchase a weapon.

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"Important I think The element is that he has never been charged, he has never been formally charged with a crime, "said James Scozzari, a partner of the Midwestern law firmScozzariGraham. Says. He does a background check.

Still, experts believe that Climo's father could be held liable in a civil lawsuit.

"Criminal accusations are unlikely against his father," said a California-based lawyer who worked on a case involving Michael Jackson, Nate Dogg, and Scott Peterson. 272} Lara Jerezianclaimed. "He sponsored his son's FOID card, but Illinois law allows it ... Civil liability is another story."

Video feed from Lake County, Illinois. , Prison Robert E. Climo III first appeared in Walkiegan, Illinois, Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in front of Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak. } (AP Photo / Charles Rex Arbogast, Pool)

And it's easy to prove, Rahmani argued.

"Just as parents are accused of inadvertently leaving a car to a child who is known to be a dangerous driver, Bob Klimo has a dangerous son with a pistol or rifle. You could be accused of helping you get it, "he said.

The suspect's father did not immediately respond to the request for comment.

Climo III first appeared in court on Wednesday morning, Theodore S. Judge Potkonjak ordered him to be detained withoutdetentionand will face life imprisonment if convicted.