A horrific stabbing rampage in a residential neighborhood in Northern Illinois left four people dead and seven others wounded on Wednesday. The suspect, Christian Soto, 22, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of attempted first-degree murder, and two counts of home invasion in connection with the attacks in Rockford, Ill.
Authorities revealed that Soto claimed he had been given drugs laced with an unknown psychotic substance by one of the victims, which caused him to become paranoid. The suspect was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday afternoon.
Three victims were killed at the scene, with a fourth dying at the hospital. Seven others were injured, with four already released from the hospital. The victims included a 15-year-old girl, a 63-year-old woman, and two men aged 49 and 22.
Sheriff Gary Caruana of Winnebago County stated that among the injured victims was a woman who had been running away from the suspect after a home invasion. The community of Rockford was left shaken by the incident, especially after a fatal stabbing at a Walmart just days prior.
The police responded swiftly to the calls for assistance, with the suspect in custody within 20 minutes of the first call. Photos from the crime scene showed a large police presence in the residential neighborhood.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as police apprehended the suspect, who appeared to resist officers. One resident, Vanessa Hy, expressed relief that her children were not home during the rampage.
The incident has left the community in shock and disbelief, with residents struggling to make sense of the senseless violence that unfolded in their neighborhood.
