Family members and survivors had been told for weeks that Climo wanted to change his original plea to guilty, and many had prepared victim impact statements that they wanted to read aloud.
But after Lake County prosecutors announced in court that the 23-year-old would plead guilty to 55 charges, which would likely mean life in prison without the possibility of parole, Circuit Judge Victoria Rossetti asked Climo to admit. Climo remained silent for so long that the judge asked if he and his lawyers needed to confer. After a short recess, the heartbreaking news for the victim’s family was delivered.
Climo’s public defender announced that he would not be moving forward with the trial. Rossetti immediately rescheduled Climo’s trial date to February 25.
The courtroom itself was silent. Those gathered had been advised beforehand to contain their emotions and refrain from any outbursts. But their looks of horror were reaction enough. And moments later, after meeting privately with the prosecutor, they left angry, frustrated and again in pain. Some noted that the second anniversary of the tragedy was just eight days away.
Leah Sundheim, whose mother, Jacqueline Sundheim, was among those killed, hoped the expected outcome of the hearing would help her recover.
“All I wanted was for my mother to suffer utter grief, knowing that my father would spend the rest of his life in prison with no looming trial,” Sundheim said, “but once again we were shown his complete and blatant disregard for humanity.”
Antonio Romanucci, a lawyer representing the victims’ families in a separate civil lawsuit, spoke of “great shock and disappointment.”
“Today you saw absolute, pure evil,” he said. “This was a calculated act on his part to perpetuate the suffering. He was enjoying the theater. He was not looking out for this family. He knew there was an audience.”
The defendant, who allegedly fired an AR-style rifle from a rooftop, evaded arrest by wearing women’s clothing to hide his identity during the 2022 parade and fleeing with people trying to escape the gunfire. He was found on a highway north of Highland Park after an eight-hour manhunt. Prosecutors said his confession did not provide a clear motive.
He has been charged with 117 counts of murder, attempted murder and aggravated assault with a firearm, after police accused him of firing more than 80 rounds with a Smith & Wesson semi-automatic rifle from the roof of a building overlooking the celebration.
The town where Climo grew up was thrown into chaos. The victims ranged in age from 35 to 88. Irina and Kevin McCarthy died shielding their 2-year-old son. Eight-year-old Cooper Roberts was left paralyzed from the waist down. One spectator placed his son in a trash can for safety as he ran frantically to find and protect the rest of his family.
Police said the military-style rifle used was purchased legally.
Climo has been held without bail since his arrest. He was originally scheduled to stand trial in February of this year, but the trial was postponed when he requested to represent himself at one point. His next trial, represented by a public defender, was scheduled for early 2025, so when the victim’s family was informed of his planned plea agreement, they were prepared for an earlier resolution.
There was a heavy police presence outside the court on Wednesday, and all eyes were on Climo as he was led into the courtroom in a navy blue prison uniform and restrained in a wheelchair.
Maria Ubaldo’s lawyer, Josh Koskoff, said he was willing to wait however long she wanted to get justice for her husband, Eduardo Ubaldo. Koskoff said Eduardo “realized the American dream” and became very patriotic after coming to the country, proudly wearing American flag shorts on Independence Day, July 4.
Climo’s parents were in the courtroom. In November, his father pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanor reckless conduct counts for knowingly allowing his son to obtain a firearm after threatening to commit a school shooting, as well as another threat to “kill everyone” and a 2019 suicide attempt.
“Robert Climo Jr. made a reckless and dangerous decision to sponsor his son. [firearms] “This is not a fishing license. This is not a permit to go to a museum,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Reinhart noted at the time.
Climo Jr., a well-known resident who once ran for mayor, showed up to the Lake County courthouse last fall wearing a shirt that read, “I’m a Political Pawn” across the front. After being warned, he turned his shirt inside out and was subsequently sentenced to 60 days in jail, two years of probation and 100 days of community service — far less than the three-year prison sentence he was given at trial. He was released after serving 27 days for good behavior.
In his father’s defense, Reinerhart said the case against Climo Jr. represents a new type of prosecution that seeks to hold parents responsible for mass murder committed by their children.
“America alone is struggling with a sea of firearms,” he said, “and we are drowning in that sea.”
