Tragedy Strikes Rockford: Four Killed, Seven Wounded in Stabbing Rampage

A 22-year-old male is in custody following a stabbing spree in Rockford, Illinois, on Wednesday afternoon, which left four people dead and seven others injured, according to a news release from the Rockford Police Department.

The victims included a 15-year-old girl, a 63-year-old woman, a 49-year-old man, and another 22-year-old man, as per the police statement. The injured individuals were transported to local hospitals with “serious injuries.”

During a news conference on Wednesday afternoon, Police Chief Carla Redd described the incident as a “multi-jurisdictional event” and mentioned that one of the injured was in a “critical condition.”

Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana shared that among the injured was a woman who had sustained stab wounds to her hands and face during a home invasion. “The young lady ran from him,” he said. “She is currently at a hospital and she is intubated and she is in a serious condition.”

Caruana added that a male who came to the woman’s aid was also stabbed but is “fine” after being treated at the hospital.

The suspect, identified as a 22-year-old male, was apprehended at 1:35 p.m. local time, according to the Rockford Police statement. Officers responded to multiple addresses involved in the incident around 1:14 p.m. Authorities do not believe there are any other suspects at large.

A vigil for the victims is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, as announced in a Facebook post from the City of Rockford Government, which called for support for the affected families and neighbors.

Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara expressed his grief in a statement shared on Facebook Wednesday night, stating, “It’s hard to grasp how this could happen and how emotional and raw the community is tonight.” He emphasized the need for unity and support among residents during such a challenging time.