Deadly stabbing spree in Illinois leaves families, neighbors shattered

Four people killed, seven injured after suspect goes on a rampage in Rockford, Illinois

A spree of violence left four people dead and seven injured after multiple stabbings occurred on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, on the city's southeast side near Cleveland Avenue.

The attacks happened in the area of Cleveland Avenue, Holmes Street and Eggleston Road, near Alpine Road and Harrison Avenue, according to Rockford and Winnebago County Sheriff's police.

Christian I. Soto, an Upland Drive resident, is suspected in a series of violent attacks. He was captured by police about 1:35 on the afternoon of the crime.

The crime scene: Stabbing leaves 4 dead, 5 injured after violent attacks in Rockford, Illinois

The victims ranged in age from 15 to 63

Three died at the scene. The fourth victim was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Among those killed were a 63-year-old woman, a 49-year-old man, a 22-year-old man and a 15-year-old girl. Several but not all victims were stabbed according to police, but none were shot. U.S. Postal mail carrier was beaten stabbed and repeatedly and then run over with a vehicle more than once, according to a witness account to police.

The victims: Who were the victims of Rockford's fatal mass stabbing? Police release ages

See photos: Spree of violence leaves four dead in Rockford, Illinois.

'By the grace of God': Residents thankful for decision to stay home

After two days of cloudy skies and rain, the sun was starting to come out Wednesday afternoon over Rockford, and Charles Spivey was thinking of taking a walk with his two daughters, ages 10 and 8.

"By the grace of God, I did not do that," Spivey said as he reflected on the massacre that took place in his neighborhood.

Shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday, a 22-year-old man attacked several people, killing four and injuring five. Among the fatalities were a 15-year-old girl and a mail carrier.

'By the grace of God': Rockford neighbors struggle to understand deadly stabbing spree

Neighborhood resident arrested in connection with stabbings

A 22-year-old male was taken into custody and booked on charges of murder, attempted murder and home invasion, according to information from the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department.

Christian I. Soto, an Upland Drive resident, is suspected in a series of violent attacks about 1:15 p.m. Wednesday that left four dead including a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier, and at least five injured in the area of Holmes Street, Winnetka Drive and Cleveland Avenue in an area northeast of Alpine Road and Harrison Avenue.

The suspect: Neighborhood resident arrested in connection with Rockford stabbings

Counseling offered, prayer vigil planned

Wednesday's violence came on the heels of a teen employee at the Northridge Drive Walmart store being stabbed Sunday and later dying that evening.

Trying to make sense of the horrific series of events — family, friends, neighbors and anyone impacted by the tragedy were invited to receive free emotional support and counseling services at the Flinn Middle School, 2525 Ohio Parkway.

"There are no words, and this community is grieving," said Rosecrance president and CEO David Gomel. "I love this community. Many people love this community, and we're hurting. So, anything that we can do as an organization to ease some of that grief or burden, we want to do it."

Rockford area faith leaders also organized a vigil at the intersection of Charles Street and Eggleston Road the day after the killings.

Emotional struggle: Struggling to understand Rockford's stabbing spree? Counseling and prayers being offered

Trail of violence spanned five locations

The trail of violence included five crime scenes, some in Rockford and some in Winnebago County. Soto is initially charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and home invasion.

According to Winnebago County State's Attorney J. Hanley, Soto was visiting a neighborhood friend's house in the 2300 block of Holmes Street where the carnage began with killings of Jacob Schupbach, 23, and his mother, Romona Schupbach, 63. Soto is accused of leaving the Schupbach house and attacking U.S. Postal mail carrier Jay Larson, 49. Larson was beaten before a witness told police he saw Soto retrieve a knife from a vehicle, stab Larson repeatedly and then run over him with a vehicle more than once.

Soto also is accused of leaving that scene and fleeing to another home where he killed 15-year-old Jenna Newcomb with a baseball bat.

He is accused of attacking five more people in two more locations including a passerby who stepped in to save a woman's life.

News conference: Officials share new details from mass stabbing in Rockford that left 4 dead and 7 injured

5 crime scenes involved: Officials release names of victims, other details from killing spree in Rockford

Christian Soto appears in court on murder charges

Dressed in a standard yellow jail jumpsuit, Christian I. Soto appeared in front of Judge Scott Paccagnini and heard the charges against him: four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts attempted first-degree murder and two counts of home invasion.

Public Defender Nick Zimmerman, who's been appointed to represent Soto for now, asked the judge to continue the case until next week. The judge agreed and scheduled Soto's pre-trial detention hearing for 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 2.

More: Rosecrance hosts free counseling services in wake of mass stabbing. See photos

More: Rockford man formally charged in mass stabbing, four deaths. Here's what happened in court

Vigil aims to replace terror with hope and healing

Several hundred people in search of healing gathered Thursday for a prayer vigil in a parking lot less than a mile from where a knife-wielding Rockford man killed four people and injured several others the day before.

Local, state and federal leaders joined faith leaders to offer words of hope after Wednesday's terror.

Remembering lives lost: Rockford community holds vigil to remember lives lost in mass stabbing

Afternoon of prayer: Rockford community gathers to honor victims of mass stabbing

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Deadly stabbing spree in Rockford leaves four dead, others injured