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On March 27, 2024, four people were killed and seven others were injured in a mass stabbing in Rockford, Illinois, with the fatalities entailing two men, a woman, and a 15-year-old girl.[1] A suspect, 22-year-old Christian Ivan Soto, of Rockford, was taken into custody and charged with several counts of first-degree murder and home invasion.[2]

Attacks

During an interview following his arrest, Soto told police that he was friends with one of the victims, a 23-year-old man named Jacob D. Schupbach, and that he had gone to Schupbach's house to smoke marijuana. According to Soto, he became paranoid that the drugs Schupbach gave him were laced with an unknown narcotic,[3] after which he retrieved a knife from the kitchen and fatally stabbed Schupbach, along with his 63-year-old mother, Ramona. Witnesses also reported seeing Soto enter a vehicle and run over Jacob Schupbach before following him back into the house.

After exiting the home, Soto fatally stabbed Jay P. Larson, a 49-year-old postal worker, whom Soto also ran over as he fled in his pickup truck. He then injured three people at another residence, all of whom were released after being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Soto then entered the unlocked back door of another residence, where three girls had been watching movies in the basement. After asking the girls "where the gun was", Soto attacked all three of them with a softball bat he had retrieved from the kitchen. One of the girls, 15-year-old Jenna A. Newcomb, was fatally injured before Soto eventually fled the home. According to Newcomb's mother, she died protecting her sister and friend from further harm.

The attacks continued in another part of Winnebago County, where Soto allegedly broke into a woman's home and attacked her, as well as a man who had been driving by and stopped to intervene, with a knife. As Soto began attacking the man, police arrived and took him into custody.[4]

Victims

Four people, including a 15-year-old girl and a postal worker, were killed in the attacks, while seven others were injured. The victims were identified as 23-year-old Jacob D. Schupbach, 63-year-old Ramona L. Schupbach, 49-year-old Jay P. Larson, and 15-year-old Jenna A. Newcomb.[4][5][6][7]

Accused

The suspect in the attacks, 22-year-old Christian Ivan Soto, had several traffic violations, with one incident in 2022 resulting in Soto receiving a sentence of six months of supervision. Soto was also charged with damage to property in September 2022.

Following the attacks, Soto was charged with four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of attempted first-degree murder, and two counts of home invasion.[2] Soto faces up to 60 years in prison on each count of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, as well as up to 30 years in prison for each count of home invasion.[4]

During a court hearing on April 2, Soto disrupted the proceedings with a verbal outburst in which he loudly exclaimed "Only God can judge me" and called those present "puppets" and "serpents".[8]

Reactions

In a statement released the day after the attacks, President Joe Biden stated that he and first lady Jill Biden were "horrified to learn of the brutal attack carried out in Rockford last night." Biden further stated that they were "praying for the families of those who lost loved ones, and hoping that all those injured make a full recovery", expressed gratitude "for the heroic actions of local law enforcement, who confronted the suspect and prevented the loss of more innocent life", and pledged that his administration "will do everything in its power to help the people of Rockford and the broader community recover from this traumatic event."[2]

U.S. representative Eric Sorensen, whose district covers Rockford, stated in a Twitter post that he was "grateful for quick actions of our police who were able to catch the suspect and prevent additional harm to our neighbors in Rockford."[9]

Rockford's mayor, Tom McNamara, described the attacks as a "random and senseless act of violence"[4] and stated that his heart was "breaking for those who have lost their lives, their families and our community".[10]

References

  1. ^ Mayorquín, Orlando; Fadulu, Lola (March 27, 2024). "Man Charged With Killing 4 in Stabbing Rampage Blames Drugs". The New York Times. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Hutchinson, Bill; Sarnoff, Leah (March 28, 2024). "What to know about the deadly Rockford, Illinois, stabbing spree". ABC News. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  3. ^ Drenon, Brandon (March 29, 2024). "Rockford, Illinois stabbing suspect blamed 'laced' marijuana, authorities say". BBC News. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Burke, Minyvonne; Helsel, Phil (March 28, 2024). "4 dead, including teen who was killed protecting her sister, in Illinois stabbing spree". NBC News. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  5. ^ Simonson, Amy; Mascarenhas, Lauren; Rose, Andy (March 28, 2024). "4 dead, 7 injured in stabbing rampage in Rockford, Illinois, residential area, authorities say". CNN. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  6. ^ Dodge, John (March 29, 2024). "What we know about the victims in Rockford, Illinois stabbings". CBS News. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  7. ^ Kolkey, Jeff (March 29, 2024). "Rockford man lauded as a hero, good Samaritan for his actions during mass stabbing". Rockford Register Star. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  8. ^ Fox, Bridgette; Neuzil, Laura; Stoffregen, Sydni (April 2, 2024). "Suspect in Rockford attacks causes courtroom scene, deemed 'threat to community'". WIFR. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  9. ^ Suter, Tara (March 28, 2024). "Biden 'horrified' by Illinois stabbings that killed 4 people". The Hill. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  10. ^ "Four killed during stabbing spree in Illinois". BBC News. March 28, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Rockford_stabbings