An Illinois man, Christian Soto, aged 22, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder following a tragic stabbing spree in Rockford, Illinois. The incident resulted in the deaths of four individuals, including a 15-year-old girl, and left seven others injured.
Soto faces additional charges of seven counts of attempted murder and home invasion with a dangerous weapon. The victims of the attack have been identified as Jacob Schupbach, 22, Ramona Schupbach, 63, Jay Larson, 49, and 15-year-old Jenna Newcomb. Three of the victims succumbed to their injuries at the scene, while a fourth passed away at a hospital.
Jay Larson, a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Postal Service, was reportedly run down by Soto with a car before being stabbed. Soto claimed that he had gone to Jacob's house to take drugs, which he believed were laced with an unknown narcotic, leading to the violent outburst.
Soto proceeded to break into multiple homes, attacking individuals with a knife and a softball bat. Tragically, one juvenile female lost her life in the brutal assault. Mayor Tom McNamara shared that Jenna Newcomb heroically sacrificed herself to protect her sister and friend during the chaos.
Following a series of violent encounters, Soto was eventually apprehended by law enforcement after a pursuit. During the arrest, a deputy was injured but has since received medical treatment. Several of the injured individuals are still hospitalized, while others have been discharged after receiving medical care.
Christian Soto is scheduled to appear in court to face the charges brought against him and await a decision on his pre-trial detention status. The community of Rockford mourns the loss of the victims and stands in solidarity with those affected by this senseless act of violence.
