Four individuals lost their lives in the tragic incident: a 15-year-old girl, a 63-year-old woman, a 49-year-old man, and a 22-year-old man.
The violent onslaught swept across one area in about 20 minutes. First, Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana reported a home invasion near the intersection of Florence Street and Eggleston Road.
Stabbings in the face and hands severely injured a young woman who was attempting to flee. A good Samaritan who attempted to help her was also stabbed.
911 calls for stabbing victims came in one after the other as the attacker went on a spree throughout Rockford’s Holmes Street, Winnetka Drive, and Cleveland Avenue neighborhoods. Many locations in Rockford and the adjacent areas of Winnebago County quickly dispatched police and paramedics.
According to Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd, four people were killed, one was badly injured, and four others were taken to hospitals to be stabilized. Redd clarified that while not all victims suffered stab wounds, there were no gunshot casualties.
The dead included a 15-year-old girl, a 63-year-old lady, a 49-year-old male, and a 22-year-old guy.
Late Wednesday saw the arrest of another suspect, a 22-year-old man. At approximately 1:35 p.m., they captured him.
“It’s just devastation for all of us,” Rockford resident Ruth Gallagher explained. “It is a blur. It’s only a nightmare.”
Gallagher stated that her longtime mailman was among the deceased. The attack claimed the life of a postal carrier, according to the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Witnesses claim that a pickup truck may have struck the letter courier during the violence.
“The mail carrier was the nicest person.” He would help anyone; he would step in and help; he was always friendly,” Gallagher stated. “We will miss him.”
Late Wednesday, police stated they didn’t know why the attack happened.
“I think most Rockfordians are just totally shaken by this act of violence and the impact that it’s having now on multiple families’ lives,” Tom McNamara, the mayor of Rockford, said.
Because the large crime scene crosses both municipal and county boundaries, investigators are encouraging anyone with a security camera to check it for any video that could be useful.
