JAKARTA - The man accused of killing seven people and injuring dozens more at a United States Independence Day parade outside Chicago, admitted to authorities he carried out the shooting, a prosecutor said Wednesday during the suspect's first trial appearance.
Robert Crimo, a 21-year-old suspect facing seven counts of first-degree murder, appeared at a bond hearing via video link from prison, two days after the attack in Highland Park, Illinois.
Dressed in black and shoulder-length hair, Judge Theodore Potkonjak rejected Crimo's bail application.
"He did pose, in fact, a particular and present threat to society," the judge said in ordering that Crimo be detained.
Crimo only spoke briefly to make sure he didn't have a lawyer. A public defender was appointed to represent him.
Ben Dillon, a district attorney, told the court the suspect had confessed to the July 4 attacks after he was arrested. No defense entered the trial.
Meanwhile, Eric Rinehart, the state attorney for Lake County, said there would be more charges against Crimo, whose next court appearance is scheduled for July 28.
If found guilty on charges of first degree murder, he will face mandatory life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
In a press briefing after the trial, Rinehart said authorities questioned the suspect after reading out his legal rights, including the right to a lawyer.
"He went into detail about what he had done. He admitted what he had done," Rinehart.
Highland Park is the latest American region to be forced to tackle mass gun violence. The bloodshed there was the latest in a series of mass shootings that have renewed debate over US gun violence, including the May 24 attack in which 19 schoolchildren and two teachers were killed in Uvalde, Texas.
Earlier on May 14, 10 people were murdered at a supermarket in the mostly black neighborhood of Buffalo, New York.
Authorities said on Tuesday Crimo had been planning the Illinois attack for weeks. As the annual parade marched through downtown Highland Park, he climbed onto the roof of an alley and fired more than 70 bullets at the crowd, they said.
He went on vacation wearing women's clothing and makeup to cover the tattoos on his face and neck, officials said.
The suspect was arrested later on Monday when he was stopped by police behind the wheel of his mother's car, which authorities said he had driven to Wisconsin and returned to Illinois after the shooting.
After Wednesday's hearing, Sergeant Chris Covelli, a spokesman for the Lake County Sheriff's Office, said Crimo saw a "celebration" in the city of Madison, Wisconsin, and "is seriously considering using the firearm he had in his vehicle to carry out another shooting."
The Smith & Wesson semi-automatic rifle, similar to the AR-15, used in the shooting was found at the scene in Highland Park. Crimo had a similar weapon in his mother's car when he was arrested, according to the district attorney.
Police said they had no direct evidence on anti-Semitic or racist grounds for the attack. Known, Highland Park has a large Jewish community. Investigators are reviewing videos that Crimo posted on social media containing violent images.
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Separately, Crimo's parents said in a statement issued by their attorney that they requested privacy.
"We are all mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, and this is a terrible tragedy for the many families, victims, marchers, communities and ourselves," they said.
"Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to everyone," the family said.
As previously reported, six people were killed and 36 others injured in a shooting during the US Anniversary parade on the outskirts of Chicago's Highland Park. The police immediately arrested Crimo shortly after the heartbreaking incident occurred.
President Joe Biden said he and his wife Jill were "shocked by the senseless gun violence that has once again brought sorrow to the American community this Independence Day."
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