Man goes on stabbing rampage in US; 4 die, at least 7 wounded
ROCKFORD: Four people were killed and seven were hurt when a man went on a stabbing rampage on Wednesday across multiple locations in a northern Illinois community, authorities said.
A 22-year-old man is in police custody and was being questioned, according to Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd. She said one of the people who was wounded remained in critical condition.
“My heart goes out to the families right now that are suffering a loss,” Redd told reporters.
She said the Rockford Police received a medical call at 1:14pm (local time) followed by additional calls for police and paramedics.
“We don’t believe there’s any other suspects that are on the run or at large at this particular time,” Redd said. “Right now, we don’t have a clear motive as to what caused this individual to commit such a heinous crime.”
Not all of the victims found at multiple addresses in the city had stab wounds and none were shot, according to Redd.
Rockford Police initially said five people had been injured. Cori Hilliard, a public information officer with the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, told AP on Wednesday evening that two more victims were among those hurt.
Three people died at the scenes. The fourth died at a hospital.
Police later identified those victims as a 15-year-old girl, a 63-year-old woman, a 49-yearold man and a 22-year-old man. Their names were not released.
Redd said residents in the area were being asked to review their home surveillance camera footage for anything related to the attacks.
Rockford’s population is about 150,000 and it’s 145 kilometres northwest of Chicago. The violence on Wednesday came days after a teenage employee of a Walmart in Rockford was stabbed and killed inside the store.
The suspect was arrested by a Winnebago County sheriff’s deputy after they were called to a reported home invasion.
“One survivor, a young lady, fled,” Caruana stated. “She sustained stab wounds to her hands and face, is in serious condition. A good Samaritan who aided her also received stab wounds.”