Highland Park, Illinois July 4th parade shooting suspect Robert Crimo III rejects plea deal at hearing [Video]

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (WLS) — Highland Park Fourth of July parade shooting suspect Robert Crimo III rejected a plea deal and declined to change his plea at a hearing Wednesday.

The courtroom was packed with survivors and victims’ families, many of whom planned to give victim impact statements in court after an expected guilty plea was entered, but they never got the chance.

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The 23-year-old sat calmly in court, in a wheelchair for reasons unknown, while the judge asked if he agreed to plead guilty to the murders of seven people and 48 counts of aggravated assault with a firearm. He said no, much to the surprise of those assembled who had been hoping for closure.