'Random And Senseless' Killing Spree Leaves 4 Dead: 22-Year-Old Suspect Identified

ROCKFORD, IL — A man charged in a killing spree in his own neighborhood in Rockford was due in court Thursday afternoon. Four people —including a teenage girl — were killed in the attacks at several different crime scenes, and seven were wounded.

During a news conference Thursday, the victims were identified as:

• Jenna Newcomb, 15
• Jay Larson, 49
• Ramona Schupbach, 63
• Jacob Schupbach, 23

According to Winnebago County jail records, Christian Soto, 22, was taken into custody Wednesday on 13 charges, including multiple counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder and two counts of home invasion.

Just before 1:15 p.m., Rockford police responded to multiple addresses on Holmes Street, Winnetka Drive and Cleveland Avenue, police said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana said officials received a report of a home invasion just after 1 p.m. A young woman fled that incident and was in serious condition after suffering stab wounds to her hands and face, and a Good Samaritan who stopped to help the woman was also stabbed, but was expected to be OK, Caruana said. Officials said there were at least three crime scenes, according to the Rockford Register Star.

Police said Soto was taken into custody by 1:35 p.m.

The U.S. Postal Service has confirmed one of the victims was a mail carrier.

"The Postal Inspection Service can confirm that a United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier was one of the victims in today's incident in Rockford," USPS said in a statement. "At this time, there are no additional details we can provide, as this is an active investigation. Postal inspectors are on scene with the Rockford Police Department and other first responders."

Three victims died at the scenes of the stabbings, while the fourth died at a nearby hospital.

A witness told the Rockford Register Star that he saw what he believed was evidence that a mail carrier was run over by a vehicle and attacked, with his gear strewn about a yard. "It makes no sense," the witness said. "It’s like 'Grand Theft Auto.' 'I’m going to run over the mailman here. I’m going to stab a couple people there. I am going to go in this house over here.' It’s not making sense. You can’t rationalize this."

Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd said not all the victims were stabbed, but none were shot.

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

"We don’t have a clear motive in regard to what caused this individual to commit such heinous crimes," Redd said.

Mayor Tom McNamara described the incident as a "random and senseless act of violence," coming just days after a teenage employee of a Walmart in Rockford was stabbed to death inside the store in an attack that may have been racially motivated.

Soto was scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

A woman who identified herself as Soto's mother told NBC she was in shock, saying, "He’s a loving person, and he has never hurt anybody before."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 815-966-2900 or on social media, anonymously text RPDTIP plus tip information to 847-411, download the Rockford Police Department app or call Rockford Area Crime Stoppers at 815-963-7867, according to police. Residents in the area are also asked to check their security and doorbell cameras for any footage that could be connected to the incidents.

Local faith leaders were organizing a vigil set for 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of Charles Street and Eggleston Road, near the scenes of the stabbings. "If you'd like, please join and support the loved ones, families and neighbors of the innocent victims of today's violent attacks," city officials said Wednesday evening.

Counseling services for the victims' families, as well as neighbors and community members, were scheduled to be offered Thursday and Friday morning at a nearby middle school.

On X, Gov. JB Pritzker said he and his team are "monitoring the situation in Rockford and have offered our full support" to Mayor Tom McNamara. "As we await more information, our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims," the governor wrote.