(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) The Highland Park mass shooting suspect, Robert Crimo III, lost his attorney in the middle of his first courtroom appearance.
In the video hearing, defense attorney Tom Durkin was initially unable to access the Zoom call. According to The Western Journal, Durkin—who was hired by the Crimo family—had learned of a potential conflict of interest.
Private attorney Tom Durkin, who had indicated he’d be representing Crimo, is apparently trying to join the Zoom, which has nearly 100 participants.
— Matt Masterson (@ByMattMasterson) July 6, 2022
Durkin did not elaborate on his potential conflict of interest. That means Crimo, who is being held without bail, will be represented by a public defender.
Crimo’s only comment during the hearing, where nearly 100 people were present, was to say that he did not have an attorney.
During the court appearance, prosecutors said that more than 80 rounds were fired in the July 4 attack, which left seven people dead and at least 38 wounded.
Crimo reportedly drove to Madison, Wisconsin, after attacking people in Highland Park, and commented that he “seriously contemplated using the firearm he had in his vehicle to commit another shooting in Madison.”
Lake County Major Crimes Task Force spokesman Chris Covelli reported that Crimo had a second rifle and 60 rounds of ammunition.
After his arrest, Crimo confessed to the attack and dressing in women’s clothing and using makeup to cover his tattoos. Crimo’s social media history reportedly portrays him as a radical Antifa activist, who was apparently trying to pass as a Trump supporter.
The rifle Crimo discarded was found. The authorities used the serial number to trace the gun back to him. There were 83 spent shell casings recovered from the scene of the Highland Park shooting.
Covelli said that there is “no information to suggest at this point it was racially motivated, motivated by religion or any other protected status.”
Covelli stated that Crimo “walked to his mother’s home who lived in the area and he blended right in with everybody else as they were running around almost as he was an innocent spectator as well.”
