The Illinois man accused of killing seven people and wounding dozens more in a shooting at a July 4th parade in suburban Chicago pleaded not guilty on Wednesday.
This comes a week after prosecutors announced that he faces 117 felony counts in the massacre.
Robert E. Crimo III appeared for a hearing Wednesday in Lake County, Illinois circuit court to enter a formal plea to the 117 felony charges:
- 21 counts of first-degree murder
- 48 counts of attempted murder
- 48 counts of aggravated battery representing those killed and wounded during the parade in Highland Park.
According to the AP, Crimo repeatedly told Judge Victoria Rossetti that he understood the charges and potential penalties he faces, including life behind bars.
In July, Lake County prosecutors in lateannounced that a grand jury had indicted Crimo on the charges. The prosecutors had previously filed seven murder charges against the 21-year-old in the days following the shooting.
The multiple first-degree murder charges allege Crimo intended to kill, caused death or great bodily harm, and took action with a strong probability of causing death or great bodily harm to the seven people who died.
A representative for the county public defenders office, which is representing Crimo, told the AP that the office does not comment publicly on any cases.
An attorney with the office entered Crimo’s not guilty plea during Wednesday’s court appearance.
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