In a growing legal response to the Highland Park parade shooting, a lawsuit has been leveled at the Illinois State Police by survivors and relatives of the deceased, accusing the agency of negligence for its role in allowing accused shooter Robert Crimo III access to firearms. According to the Chicago Tribune, the complaint, which represents surviving family members of Eduardo Uvaldo and other victims, alleges the state police failed to adhere to internal regulations regarding Crimo’s firearm owner’s identification card application.
The plaintiffs, each seeking nearly $2.5 million, contend that internal documents from September 2019, where Crimo reportedly threatened to "kill his entire family," should have prevented his subsequent FOID card approval, as per the Chicago Tribune. However, the state police maintain that no records existed to trigger such a denial. Multiple legal actions have manifested from the tragedy, with around 60 plaintiffs pursuing damages against entities including Crimo III, his father, who pled guilty to seven misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct, various gun retailers, and Smith & Wesson, the manufacturer of the rifle used in the assault, according to attorney Matthew Sims' statement that ISP had the necessary information to prevent weapon procurement by Crimo III but failed to act upon it.
Focused on the manufacturer's alleged responsibility, another lawsuit filed by the family of Eduardo Uvaldo targets Smith & Wesson over the marketing of their AR-15-style rifle. Asserting that the company negligently aimed its advertising at young consumers, the family claims this was in direct violation of Illinois state consumer protection laws. In details provided by WGN-TV, the lawsuit brings attention to Uvaldo's immigrant roots and his long, vibrant life tragically ended by the shooting. The family stated, "He was taken too soon, because of the actions of both a disturbed man and the greedy corporation that made and marketed his weapon."
As the case garners attention, a trial for Robert Crimo III is scheduled for February 2025, as reported by the Chicago Tribune. He recently turned down a plea deal that would have resulted in a life sentence, setting the stage for prolonged legal proceedings.
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