Four people were killed and seven others were injured Wednesday in Rockford, Illinois, and its suburbs in what the mayor called a “random and senseless act of violence.”
Some of the victims were stabbed, including a woman fleeing a home invasion in Winnebago County and a man who tried to help her, authorities said.
Police have taken a 22-year-old man into custody, but officials say they are not searching for anyone else involved in the violence that occurred at “multiple scenes” in Rockford and other parts of the county shortly after 1 p.m. announced. NBC Chicago reported that the suspect was Christian Soto, citing Rockford officials.
“Words can't even express my thoughts right now,” Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd told reporters. The suspect said she had committed a “heinous crime”.
Authorities have not said how the violence unfolded. A woman who identified herself as the suspect's mother said Thursday she was in shock.
“He is a loving person and has never hurt anyone in his life,” the woman, who did not want to give her name, said over the phone. “We don't know what happened. He's not an aggressive person. This is all shocking to us. … We've never felt threatened by him. was.”
The Rockford Police Department announced on Broadcast X that one survivor was in critical condition and four others were stable after a man “attacked and stabbed multiple people.” Winnebago County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Cori Hilliard said two other people in the county were injured.
Authorities have not identified the people killed, but said the victims were a 15-year-old girl, a 63-year-old woman, a 49-year-old man, and a 22-year-old man.
The cause of death and injuries for all victims were not clear. Redd said not all of the victims were stabbed and none were shot.
Red said a medical call was received at the Rockford command center at 1:14 p.m. local time, and subsequent calls for police assistance continued.
A woman was stabbed in the hand and face after a home invasion in a neighborhood in the Rockford area, which is part of Winnebago County, escaped, Sheriff Gary Caruana said.
The woman was taken to a hospital with serious injuries and was intubated. A man who intervened to help Mr Caruana suffered stab wounds, but said he was “fine” and was being evaluated.
Sheriff's deputies took the suspect into custody, Caruana said. Online records show he faces more than a dozen charges, including murder and burglary.
He is scheduled to make his first court appearance Thursday at 1:30 p.m., according to NBC Chicago.
Caruana said one of the victims was a postman. The Postal Inspection Service confirmed the victim was a mail carrier but did not release other details, citing an active investigation.
As law enforcement tries to figure out what happened, Redd asked residents to check their surveillance and doorbell cameras for footage that could help the investigation.
“At this time, we do not have a clear motive as to why this individual committed such a heinous crime,” Redd said.
Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara and other officials said their thoughts are with the victims and their families. “I am absolutely disturbed by this act of violence and the impact it is currently having on the lives of multiple families,” the mayor said.
“My prayers are with them as they begin to deal with the really difficult days and weeks ahead,” McNamara said.
Federal law enforcement officials are assisting in the investigation, police said.
The city announced that emotional support and counseling services will be available at Flynn Middle School on Thursday and Friday.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said he is monitoring the situation and will provide Rockford with any assistance he needs.
“My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims as we await further information,” Pritzker said. said in X.
Rockford is a city of about 150,000 people located about 90 miles northwest of Chicago.
correction (March 28, 2024, 8:35 a.m. ET): An earlier version of this article incorrectly listed the date of the attack. They happened on Wednesday, not Tuesday.
