REVEALED: Highland Park parade shooter bought Smith & Wesson rifle online then picked it up from a local store
- Crimo bought his Smith & Wesson M&P 15 for between $700 and $800 online on a website Buds Gun Shop
- He then picked it up from Red Dot Arms, a store in Illinois 30 miles from his home
- It’s unclear exactly when he bought the gun but he did so legally with a FOID card
- He purchased other weapons from the same store, according to police
- Crimo is now in custody on seven murder charges
Highland Park parade shooter Bobby Crimo bought his Smith & Wesson rifle online then picked it up from a local store
Highland Park parade shooter Bobby Crimo bought his Smith & Wesson rifle online then picked it up from a local store.
The 21-year-old had been quizzed by police twice in the years before Monday’s massacre, but he was still able to legally purchase the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 for between $700 and $800 online on a website Buds Gun Shop.
He had it delivered to Red Dot Arms, a store 30 miles north of Highland Park.
The owner of that gun store insisted to The Daily Beast on Wednesday that he filled out all of the necessary paperwork to link Crimo to the weapon – writing down the serial number, his name and his address.
Crimo had a valid FOID card to purchase the weapon, which had been signed by his father. The FOID card was issued by the Illinois State Police.
‘We meticulously do the paperwork. That’s, that’s our job. That’s what we do to track,’ the man said on Wednesday. He declined to give his name.
He added that when the shooting happened on Monday, the store was closed for the July 4th holiday.
When police contacted him, he raced to the store and produced the form which related to the serial number that was on the gun Crimo dropped at the scene.
Crimo had his gun delivered to Red Dot Arms in Illinois after buying it online from a Kentucky website called Buds Gun Shop
It’s unclear what kind of checks the website Bud Guns Shop performs before selling weapons to online customers. It is still advertising July 4th specials
Crimo was able to legally purchase the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 for between $700 and $800 online on a website Buds Gun Shop
It’s unclear what kind of checks were performed by the website to purchase the gun.
The Daily Beast cited unnamed police sources who say he bought other weapons from the gun store.
Buds Gun Shop did not immediately respond to comments about what kind of checks were performed when he bought the weapon online.
Crimo appeared in court virtually on Wednesday to be charged with seven counts of murder.
He said nothing other than to confirm that he did not have a lawyer, and to ask for a public defender to be assigned to his case.
Tributes to the seven people who died in the massacre were left along the parade route
The 21-year-old shifted on his feet and looked side to side throughout the brief hearing.
Crimo will return to court on July 25th for his preliminary hearing.
Police have still not been able to determine a motive for the crime, but say he had an obsession with the numbers 47, which is 7/4 inverse – the date of the attack.
His parents have not been charged but they have retained a lawyer who on Tuesday night spoke out in their defense, insisting they did ‘nothing wrong’ and that there were no ‘red flags’ to report.
He tells the rancher, “I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown dr*gs.”
The rancher says, “Okay, but do not go in that field over there,” as he points out the location.
The DEA officer verbally explodes saying, “Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me.”
Reaching into his rear pants pocket, he removes his badge and proudly displays it to the rancher.
“See this badge? This badge means I am allowed to go wherever I wish… On any land. No questions asked or answer given. Have I made myself clear? Do you understand? “
The rancher nods politely, apologizes, and goes about his chores.
A short time later, the old rancher hears loud screams and sees the DEA officer running for his life chased by the rancher’s big Santa Gertrudis Bull…
With every step, the bull is gaining ground on the officer, and it seems likely that he’ll get gored before he reaches safety.
The officer is clearly terrified.
The rancher throws down his tools, runs to the fence, and yells at the top of his lungs…
“Your badge… Show him your badge!”
Won’t you look at that. He has previous encounters with law enforcement for violent threats, but those were not sufficiently dealt with so the shooter was able to pass a background check, buy a rifle and shoot up Stoneman Douglas High School Robb Elementary School an Independence Day parade.
Illinois already has a red flag law.
I guess nobody thought to invoke it.
The suicide attempt is the real shocker. I’m surprised that didn’t get him an involuntary commitment that would make him a prohibited person.
Or maybe Illinois didn’t inform NICS like what happened with Sutherland Springs.
I’d put even money on someone having said something to the FBI about him too, and that being ignored.
I guess the big takeaway is that the purpose of red flag laws is to be a political weapon because they certainly don’t stop crazy people who get the cops called on them from getting guns.
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