Rockford, Illinois – A 22-year-old suspect is facing multiple charges after a series of deadly attacks in a Rockford neighborhood left four people dead and several others injured. The Rockford Police reported that the attacks took place on Wednesday afternoon in a southeast neighborhood.
According to authorities, the suspect, identified as Christian Soto, was apprehended at 1:35 p.m. Soto is now facing charges of home invasion, murder, and attempted murder as per the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office.
The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of a 15-year-old female, a 63-year-old female, a 49-year-old male, and a 22-year-old female. Additionally, seven individuals were injured in the attacks.
The series of attacks began with a 911 call from the 2300 block of Holmes Street around 1:15 p.m. Soto was involved in a home invasion on Florence Street, where a female victim sustained stab wounds. Another individual who attempted to intervene in the attack also required medical attention.
The suspect continued the attacks in different locations throughout the neighborhood, including the 2100 block of Eggleston Road and the 4800 block of Cleveland Avenue. The motive behind the crimes remains unknown, as stated by Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd during a press conference.
Mayor Tom McNamara expressed shock and sadness over the violent incident and assured the community that the suspect is in custody. Support services and counseling will be provided to the affected residents in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Representative Dave Vella offered support to the victims and pledged to work closely with local authorities to address the violence and ensure justice is served. Emotional assistance will be available at Flinn Middle School for those impacted by the attacks starting at 9 a.m. on Thursday.
The authorities are actively investigating the incident and working to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. Updates on the case will be provided as more information becomes available.