ROCKFORD, Ill. (WLS) — A suspect has been charged after four people were killed and seven others were seriously hurt in a stabbing attack in multiple locations in the Rockford area Wednesday.
Christian Soto, 22, is facing several charges, including murder.
Before Wednesday, Soto had no more than a criminal damage to property charge on his record in Winnebago County. That charge was later dismissed.
Thursday, he stands charged with 12 murder/intent to kill or injure charges and one home invasion charge, according to Winnebago Jail records.
According to police, Soto was arrested 20 minutes after Wednesday’s rampage, which took place in multiple locations in the area of Holmes Street, Winnetka Drive and Cleveland Avenue on the east side of the city, with a home invasion apparently setting it off.
Rockford officials gave an update Thursday after several were killed and more injured in an attack in the area.
“The young lady ran from him,” Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana said. “She got some stab wounds in her hands and her face. She is currently in the hospital, and she is intubated. One of the good Samaritans stopped to help her out. He did get some stab wounds.”
The victims include a 15-year-old girl, a 63-year-old woman, and two men, ages 22 and 49. One of the two men is a mail carrier who neighbors said was run over by Soto as he fled the neighborhood.
The Winnebago County Coroner’s Office identified them as Jenna Newcomb, 15, of Rockford; Jacob Schupbach, 23, of Rockford; Jay Larson, 49, of Rockford; and Romona Schupbach, 63, of Rockford.
Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara said at a press conference Newcomb’s mother said she died saving her sister and protecting her friend.
Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley said Soto admitted to police to being friends with one of the victims, and went over to his home to smoke marijuana.
Soto told police he believed the drugs provided to him by the victim were laced with an unknown narcotic. Soto told police he became paranoid and got a knife from the kitchen and stabbed the man and a woman, Hanley said.
After the stabbing, Hanley said Soto attacked the USPS mailman, who suffered multiple stab wounds, in the 2200-block of Winnetka Lane. A witness said he observed the mailman being attacked and punched by the suspect. Soto then got a knife from his truck and stabbed the mailman before running him over with his pickup truck.
After hitting a parked car, Soto ran over the mailman a second time before running away, the witness said.
Parker Stuckey said he witnessed a man driving a truck, who was trying to run his neighbor over.
“He was in his underwear, covered in mud. And just, I don’t know if he got hit by it at all, but he was on the ground, trying to get away from the truck,” Stuckey said.
Hanley then said Soto forced his way into a home in the 4000-block of Cleveland Avenue and was armed with a “katana-style” knife. There, he attacked three people. Soto left after one of the victims hit him with a bottle.
In the 4700-block of Cleveland Avenue, Hanley said three girls were watching a movie in a basement when Soto broke into the house, Hanley said. Soto then attacked the girls with a bat, killing one of them and injuring two others.
Soto was later taken into custody in the area of Florence Street and Eagleston Drive.
Four of the injured have been treated and released, while one remains hospitalized and stable, officials said Thursday.
A vigil was scheduled at 2:30 p.m. at the intersection of Charles Street and Eggleston Road.
Anyone with additional information or surveillance footage has been asked to contact Rockford police at 815-966-2900. Anonymous tips can be sent to 815-963-7867.
The city announced counseling services for residents impacted by the attack. The services will be available from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday at Flinn Middle School, 2525 Ohio Parkway.
Soto was due in court Thursday afternoon.
Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara issued a statement about the attack:
“Today, we are shocked by another horrific act of violence against innocent members of our community. We can report that the suspect is in custody and the threat has been neutralized. Now that he is in custody, our primary concern is ensuring that our community members directly impacted by this violence are supported throughout their healing and recovery. We are working with community partners to provide support and services quickly and conveniently to those residents. We will announce those details soon. We have multiple jurisdictions working on multiple crime scenes to develop an understanding of what transpired in an effort to prevent this from happening again. We will continue to provide updates.”
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