4 Dead, 7 Injured After Stabbing Attack In Rockford Area: Police

ROCKFORD, IL — Four people are dead and seven more are injured after a stabbing attack Wednesday in Rockford and Winnebago County, according to authorities.

Emergency personnel responded around 1:15 p.m. to multiple addresses in the southeast Rockford area of Holmes Street, Winnetka Drive, Cleveland Avenue, Florence Street and Eggleston Road, authorities said.

The deceased include a 15-year-old girl, a 63-year-old woman, a 49-year-old man and a 22-year-old man, according to police. Three people died at the scenes. A fourth died at a hospital.

A 22-year-old man was found and taken into custody about 20 minutes after the initial law enforcement response, police said.

Five more people were hurt in Rockford, including one person who was in critical condition, Chief Carla Redd said at a press conference streamed on Facebook by WIFR.

“Words can’t even express my thoughts right now,” Redd said, later clarifying that not all the victims were stabbed but none were shot. “My heart goes out to the families right now who are suffering a loss.”

Two other people — a young woman who fled a home invasion and was in serious condition after suffering stab wounds to her hands and face, and a good Samaritan who was also stabbed — were wounded in the jurisdiction of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department, according to Sheriff Gary Caruana.

A mail carrier was among the victims, Caruana confirmed.

Mayor Tom McNamara described the incident as a “random and senseless act of violence,” adding that Rosecrance and Rockford Public Schools would be partnering to support those affected.

The attack came days after a teenage employee of a Walmart in Rockford was stabbed and killed inside the store.

Redd said there is no clear motive yet for Wednesday’s incident, and asked residents to check their home security cameras.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.