Highland Park shooter receives 7 life sentences

The convicted Highland Park shooter will spend the rest of his life in custody a Lake County judge determined on Thursday, the second day of the sentencing trial.

Judge Victoria Rossetti on April 24 sentenced the shooter — whom The Record does not identify — to seven consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. The life sentences equate to one each for the victims of the July 4, 2022 attack: Katie Goldstein, Irina McCarthy, Kevin Michael McCarthy, Stephen Straus, Jacki Lovi Sundheim, Nicolás Toledo and Eduardo Uvaldo.

The shooter also received 48 50-year sentences for attempted murder to be served consecutively to the life sentences.

According to media reports, Rossetti stated during the sentencing, “This court has absolutely no words that could adequately describe and capture the horror and pain that was inflicted on July 4th.”

The sentencing trial began on Wednesday, April 23. Relatives of the deceased and survivors of the attack provided testimony during the proceedings.

The shooter chose not to appear in the courtroom during the sentencing trial, which took place about eight weeks after he entered a guilty plea at the start of his criminal trial.

In a statement, Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering said in part:

“(Thursday), a chapter has closed on our community’s journey, but no verdict or sentence can erase the pain or lasting impact of this horrific act. As we listened to the powerful voices of those whose lives were forever changed, we were reminded of the profound loss — of loved ones taken too soon, of the sense of safety that was shattered, and of the futures that were forever altered. …

“While the legal proceedings have concluded, our work continues. We will always stand with the survivors, the families, and all who carry the weight of this tragedy. Our support remains steadfast. We will never forget.”  

In Highland Park, city officials are developing a plan for a permanent place of remembrance to honor the victims and those impacted by the shooting. In the latest update, officials discussed the possibility of two memorial sites: one subtle in Port Clinton Square and another more significant tribute in the rose garden near City Hall.

The City also provided a list of resources for those looking for help for issues related to the shooting.

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