(RepublicanJournal.org) – An Illinois man is in custody after police found him in the vicinity of multiple horrific crime scenes. The suspect allegedly attacked several people in a residential area, killing four and injuring five others. One of the victims, a young woman who sustained multiple stab wounds, is currently in critical condition.
Officers from the Rockford Police Department responded to multiple addresses at roughly 1:14 p.m., with calls near Holmes St., Winnetka Dr., and Cleveland Ave. They described the four deceased victims as a 15-year-old female, a 22-year-old male, a 49-year-old male, and a 63-year-old female. All but one were dead when police got to the scene, with the fourth passing away after arriving at the hospital.
Police arrested the suspect, a 22-year-old male named Christian Soto, at 1:35 p.m. His charges include two counts of home invasion with a dangerous weapon, four counts of murder, and seven counts of attempted murder.
Authorities are still trying to determine the motive behind the deadly spree, but they believe their suspect is responsible for all of the attacks. One of the victims was a letter carrier for the US Postal Service. Not all of the targets were stabbed, but authorities gave no additional details other than the fact that there were no guns involved.
The news comes in the wake of another deadly stabbing that occurred just days earlier at a local Walmart. The department shared that officers arrested 28-year-old Timothy Carter after he allegedly stabbed an 18-year-old employee at the store in the back. That victim also died at the hospital.
The Rockford Police Department is asking local residents to review home surveillance footage and share any other information that might be helpful in bringing justice to the victims. Tipsters can contact the department directly at 815-966-2900 or through their social media pages. People who wish to remain anonymous can text “RPDTIP” along with their information to 847411, or they can call Rockford Area Crime Stoppers at 815-963-7867.
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