Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering spoke on what the future holds for the city after the sentencing of July 4 parade shooter Robert Crimo III, including the plans for a permanent place of remembrance and transitioning in the years ahead from memorials to reflection and service.
The city has made a point of drawing a line between the trial of Crimo, who opened fire on the crowd at the 2022 parade killing seven and injuring dozens of others, and any discussion about plans for a place of remembrance, declining questions and requesting understanding from media outlets.
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But Thursday afternoon, after the judge handed Crimo a multi-lifetime sentence, a grim chapter of Highland Park’s history was closed, and Rotering talked about what tomorrow might look like.
This year’s July 4 celebration will have a parade, Rotering said, albeit with an altered route. Additional plans were released in February, as well as a notice that there will be no drone or fireworks shows organized by the city.
A remembrance is planned for Independence Day morning, and the temporary memorial at the city’s Rose Garden will continue to be open to the public.
After “two days of heartbreak” at the sentencing hearing, Rotering expressed pride in the community for supporting one another following the shooting. She also thanked the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office and emergency responders for their work following the “unbelievably devastating event.”
Efforts related to a permanent place of remembrance have been ongoing, with the city organizing a working group several months ago, she said. The city recently engaged a consultant to gather public input about the location, and it has been determined that the primary location should be purposefully away from the center of town and be located next to City Hall, where the 2022 parade began.
Rotering said the Department of Justice Victims of Crime Division advised not putting any memorials “in people’s faces” where they would see it every day. The selected location will provide, “peace and quiet to reflect and remember,” she said.
Another secondary, subtle recognition of the tragedy is planned to remember what happened in Port Clinton as well, she said. Officials have been gathering feedback from the community about where that will be and what it will look like. Designs could include a water feature, an eternal flame or trees planted in recognition of those killed.
She emphasized they would be “places of remembrance” for those killed, and the many injured and traumatized by the event.
“It is, in the end, going to be a place for people to reflect and to find solace, hopefully, but also to remember,” Rotering said.
It’s been almost three years since the shooting, but the victim impact statements made during the sentencing hearing made it clear the emotional wounds caused by the shooting were still fresh for many, even if the physical injuries have healed.
Rotering was asked if the July 4 celebration would ever be able to move past the tragedy.
“For those who lived through it, it will forever be a part of our lives,” she said. “But, I also spoke to one of the next of kin who said, ‘At what point do we move on from a memorial to another way of reflecting and remembering?’”
Rotering said city officials have spoken with those in other communities that have faced similar tragedies in search of some insight. They talked about the transition, over time, from memorial ceremonies to days of service and community building, she said.
Rotering advocated for expanding the Illinois assault weapons ban — initially passed in 2023, struck down by a federal judge last year, but that remains in effect as the court battle over it continues — arguing it would help “proactively” protect other communities from the fate suffered by residents of the Highland Park area.
One of the victims of the shooting, Ashbey Beasley, has made similar public pushes for gun control, as well as recategorizing mass shootings like the one in Highland Park as domestic terrorism, calling on U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to act.
Rotering shared the sentiment, pointing to a quote from a family member of Nicolas Toledo, one of the seven killed the day of the parade.
“He had lived the American dream and died the American nightmare,” Rotering said. “This is terrorism.”
The mayor also pushed back against online criticism that she has taken advantage of the tragedy for political reasons.
“If (they’re saying) my motive is to get weapons of war off the streets of this country, and stop other communities from experiencing this kind of devastating pain, I’ll own it,” Rotering said. “Anything else is ridiculous.”
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The mayor reflected on the changes that have come since the shooting.
Locally, firefighters have been given “stop the bleed” training, which has also been offered to the community to help build “resiliency.” Rotering recalled how many people, medical professionals and otherwise, had rushed to try and save people’s lives immediately following the shooting.
There was also the use of drones by law enforcement to survey large gatherings and events to get a view of rooftops and large areas, which she said was previously restricted to only private use.