Conflicting Accounts Emerge Over Whether Highland Park Shooting Suspect Was ‘Known to Law Enforcement’

First responders work the scene of a shooting at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Ill., on July 4, 2022. Jim Vondruska/Getty Images

The individual accused of shooting and killing six people at an Illinois July 4 parade was not known to law enforcement, according to the mayor of Highland Park.

Mayor Nancy Rotering told NBC that she did not believe Robert Crimo was “previously known to police” before the incident, although he had posted numerous videos and songs on social media that indicated he may have violent tendencies. Crimo allegedly called himself “Awake the Rapper” and had thousands of listeners on Spotify.