Four people lost their lives, and seven others sustained injuries in and around Rockford, Illinois, on Wednesday in what the city's mayor described as a "random and senseless act of violence."
According to officials, some of the victims were stabbed, including a woman who escaped a home invasion in Winnebago County and a man who attempted to assist her. A 22-year-old suspect has been apprehended, and authorities stated that no other individuals are being sought in connection with the incidents that occurred at "multiple scenes" in Rockford and an area of the county shortly after 1 p.m. NBC Chicago, citing Rockford officials, identified the suspect as Christian Soto.
Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd expressed her thoughts, saying, "Words can't even express my thoughts right now." She described the suspect's actions as "heinous crimes."
The sequence of events leading to the violence has not been disclosed by authorities. The suspect's mother expressed shock, saying, "He's a loving person and he has never hurt anybody before. We don't know what happened. He's not an aggressive person. This is all shocking to us. ... We never felt threatened with him."
One individual is in critical condition, and four others are in stable condition after being "attacked and stabbed multiple individuals," according to the police department. The deceased victims include a 15-year-old girl, a 63-year-old woman, a 49-year-old man, and a 22-year-old man, police stated.
The exact causes of death and injuries for all victims are unclear. Redd noted that not all victims were stabbed, and none were shot.
Reports of a medical call came in at 1:14 p.m. to Rockford's dispatch center, followed by calls requesting police assistance. In a Winnebago County neighborhood, a home invasion occurred, and a woman fled but was stabbed in the hands and face, Sheriff Gary Caruana said. She was hospitalized with serious injuries and has been intubated. A man who intervened also suffered stab wounds but is in good condition and under evaluation.
A sheriff's deputy apprehended the suspect, who faces more than a dozen charges, including murder and home invasion, according to online records. He is scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
One victim was a mail carrier, Caruana said, without providing further details. The Postal Inspection Service confirmed the victim was a letter carrier but offered no additional information, citing an active investigation.
Both law enforcement agencies are conducting investigations and attempting to reconstruct the events. Redd urged residents to review security or doorbell camera footage that may assist investigators.
"We don't have a clear motive in regards to what caused this individual to commit such heinous crimes," Redd stated.
Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara and other officials expressed sympathy for the victims and their families. McNamara said he was "totally shaken by this act of violence and the impact that it's having now on multiple families' lives."
Emotional support and counseling services will be available at Flinn Middle School on Thursday and Friday, the city announced.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he was monitoring the situation and offered any support needed to Rockford's mayor.
Rockford, located approximately 60 miles northwest of Chicago, has a population of around 150,000.