Church acquaintance recalls accused parade shooter: 'He was very quiet about things'

Charlotte Bank talks with reporters about Bobby Crimo, whom she knew through church. Photo credit Nancy Harty/WBBM Newsradio

By Nancy Harty

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A woman who attended church with parade shooting suspect Bobby Crimo describes him as a quiet person who sometimes shared deep thoughts during their previous talks.

Charlotte Bank attended a vigil at Trinity Grace Church in Highland Park Tuesday afternoon with other members of Christ Church. Christ Church currently is part of the investigation scene stemming from Monday’s fatal ambush on parade-goers.

Bank said Crimo for years was a regular at Sunday services and Thursday night meetings. He would ride his electric bike to the meetings, even in the snow, she recalled.

“We talked about his bike and maybe I needed one because it would save on gas. And what kind did he have? And he was kind of looking for a girlfriend. He was opening up a little bit,” she said.

Bank said when she asked Crimo about the rose tattoo on his neck, he told her it had spiritual meaning to him after a difficult time in his life. He didn’t elaborate, she said.

Most of their conversations stayed on the surface, and Crimo didn’t give many details when she would ask him questions, she said.

“He was very quiet about things, but he would often have something to add. And what partly surprised me was there was a lot of depth to it,” Bank said. “I mean, he seemed very spiritual.”

Bank says she and another church member were checking on one another after the shooting, so she emailed Crimo.

When she learning that police thought Crimo was the shooter she said she felt horror and disbelief.

She said she last saw him the day before the parade tragedy.

“I was asking him what he was doing for the Fourth, and he said, ‘Not really anything,’” Bank said. “He was just kind of mumbling, which was typical for him, to be very quiet.”

Others who attended Tuesday’s vigil said it was emotional, with members of Christ Church talking about how they were saddened they couldn’t help the troubled young man.