Robert E Crimo III The Highland Park Gunmans History

Robert “Bobby” E. Crimo III, 21, has yet to be formally charged in the shooting, which authorities said he allegedly carried out by climbing onto the rooftop of a nearby business and opening fire on the parade minutes after it started, sending parade-goers running for safety.

Law enforcement have yet to establish a motive, but Covelli said there has been no information to suggest the attack was “racially motivated, motivated by religion or any other protected status.” There is no indication anyone else was involved, Covelli said.

Crimo who goes by the moniker Awake the Rapper and boasts more than 16,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, was reportedly ‘known to police.’ Music videos posted by Crimo online last fall include a drawing of himself shooting people and a clip of himself throwing bullets on the floor of a classroom while wearing armor in what appears to be a joke about school shootings.

“During the attack, Crimo was dressed in women’s clothing and investigators do believe he did this to conceal his facial tattoos and his identity and help him during the escape,” Covelli said. That plan seemed to work initially, as Crimo allegedly walked undetected to his mother’s home, borrowed her car and drove out of town. 

Crimo has two siblings, including a 27 year-old sister, Lynette Pesina, with the family residing in a comfortable $425,000 home in Highwood, close to the scene of the shooting. The family lives along Pleasant Avenue in Highwood, just north of Highland Park.  Their home is located across the street from Oak Terrace Elementary School. 

Crimo was arrested after an eight-hour manhunt that involved local and federal authorities.