In an early afternoon of 27th March, a 22 year old boy went on a stabbing spree in a residential neighborhood in Rockford, Northern Illinois, killing 4 and leaving many with grave injuries. In a span of 20 minutes, the suspect covered majority of the neighborhood area, stabbed anyone who met his sight.
The Sheriff, Gary Caruana of Winnebago County, addressed the local media, grieving the incident and elucidating on how the crime unfolded at multiple locations. The Rockford police station received three calls back to back on Wednesday afternoon from Holmes Street, Winnetka Drive and Cleveland Avenue in Rockford, all reporting the same crime.
The Sheriff said the first call reported a home invasion near the intersection of Florence Street and Eggleston Road. A young woman was seriously wounded when she tried resisting being hit, when the suspect stabbed her in her face and hands. A kind altruistic who lend his hand to aid the wounding woman was also brutally stabbed. The motive of the 22 year old boy who was incarcerated by the Rockford police chief, Carla Redd, has not yet been identified.
The gruesome crime orchestrated a chain of reactions from residents of the Rockford neighborhood, exclaiming the gravity of the attack as “ill-fated” and “heartbreaking”. Apart from the seven who were hospitalized and are currently receiving medical support, there were four who succumbed to an unfortunate death. The victims are a 15- year- old girl, a 22-year-old boy, a 49- year- old man and a 63- year- old woman. Among the deceased is a mail carrier who shared an amiable relation with the Rockford residents. The U.S Postal Inspection Service condemned the death of one of their employees.
An investigation is underway to piece the crime together. Law enforcement agencies have notified the residents of Rockford to assist in the investigation by checking for any video cameras or surveillance footage that might aid in the investigation. The police officers refuted from naming the suspect but took the 22 year old into custody to study the motive; an instrument deemed imperative in the court of law.
Addressing the media, Carla Redd, the Rockford police chief dismisses the involvement of any other suspect. She condemns the death of the victims pronouncing the crime as “utterly disturbing” and “heinous”. She condemns the death of the four victims and urges the Rockford community to stand by the families of the perished.
In response to the heinous event, psychological temper of many have been affected. The administration of Flinn Middle School has announced for a special counselling session on Thursday and Friday to address trauma and support.
