HIGHLAND PARK, United States Before he allegedly murdered seven spectators at a US Independence Day parade, the Highland Park community knew Robert Crimo as a quiet kid and former Cub Scout.<\/p>\n
But online, the 21-year-old known to friends and family as Bobby showed a strong inclination for violence and anger at being overlooked.<\/p>\n
I know him as somebody who was a Cub Scout when I was the Cub Scout leader, Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering told NBC on Tuesday, describing Crimo as just a little boy.<\/p>\n
It is one of those things where you step back and you say, What happened?'<\/p>\n
Crimo, who grew up in Highland Park, just outside Chicago, lived in an apartment behind his fathers house. His dad, Bob Crimo, owned a local deli and had run against Rotering for mayor in 2019.<\/p>\n
Crimos uncle, Paul Crimo, described his nephew on CNN as a lonely, quiet person who spent much of his time in front of his computer, not saying much.<\/p>\n
A day after the shooting, authorities revealed that in 2019 Crimo had been visited twice by police, first after a suspected attempt at suicide, and a second time to remove a collection of knives, after he allegedly threatened to kill everyone.<\/p>\n
Awake A thin white man with a patchy beard, Crimo sports several tattoos on his neck and face, including one above his left eyebrow of the word Awake, a reference to his stage name.<\/p>\n
Multiple songs and videos posted online by Awake the Rapper include several references to mass shootings.<\/p>\n
In one cartoon-style music video, the protagonist is seen shooting people with a rifle before finding himself lying in a pool of blood, shot dead by the police.<\/p>\n
I just want to scream. Sometimes it feels like Im living a dream, sings the rapper.<\/p>\n
Another video is of Crimo in a classroom, wearing a helmet and bulletproof vest and standing next to an American flag as he throws bullets on the floor.<\/p>\n
The voiceover on that video says, I need to leave now, I need to just do it. It is my destiny. Everything has led up to this; nothing can stop me, not even myself.<\/p>\n
In another clip, Crimo says, I hate when others get more attention than me on the internet.<\/p>\n
The videos and songs have now been removed from YouTube and Spotify.<\/p>\n
Crimos social media pages have also been taken down, but archived photos from his accounts appear to show him at a rally for then-president Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
In another, Crimo appears to have a Trump flag draped around his shoulders. He also posted a picture of Pepe the frog, a cartoon character that has become a rallying symbol for the American far right.<\/p>\n
Bennett Brizes, a friend who had recently become estranged from Crimo, told the Washington Post the young man was consistently apolitical, and when asked about current events would always answer, Man, I dont know.<\/p>\n
Crimo seems to have intended violence for a long time, even illustrating it in his videos, said Emerson Brooking, a research fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank specializing in extremist internet and social media usage.<\/p>\n
But even with the apparent pro-Trump images, so far it does *not* appear that he was partisan or ideological, Brooking said on Twitter.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Suspect in July 4 shooting an alienated youth with dark online persona - Manila Bulletin<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" HIGHLAND PARK, United States Before he allegedly murdered seven spectators at a US Independence Day parade, the Highland Park community knew Robert Crimo as a quiet kid and former Cub Scout. But online, the 21-year-old known to friends and family as Bobby showed a strong inclination for violence and anger at being overlooked Continue reading