Suspect charged with murder in deadly stabbing attacks

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR/Gray News) - Police have charged a man accused of killing four people and injuring seven others during a violent stabbing spree in a residential area of Rockford, Illinois Wednesday.

According to the Associated Press, 22-year-old Christian Soto has been charged with first-degree murder as well as attempted murder and home invasion in connection to the 20-minute crime spree.

Rockford police identified those who were killed in the attacks as 63-year-old Ramona Schupbach, 23-year-old Jacob Schupbah, 49-year-old Jay Larson and 15-year-old Jenna Newcomb.

Jay Larson was a 25-year veteran of the United States Postal Service, according to Ruth Mendoza, the Inspector in Charge for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service-Chicago. She reported he died while on the job, delivering mail to the neighborhood.

During a news conference, Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara said Jenna Newcomb’s mother wanted people to know that Jenna died while protecting her sister and friend during the attacks.

Seven others were injured in the attack, five of whom were being treated for serious injuries at local hospitals as of Wednesday night.

Police reported not all the victims had been stabbed.

First responders were initially dispatched Wednesday afternoon to an address for medical calls and additional requests for police to help at nearby addresses followed quickly after.

Authorities reported the suspect in the attacks, believed to be Soto, was taken into custody about 20 minutes after the first call came in. Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd said investigators believe that Soto acted alone and that there are no other suspects at large.

Online records on the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office indicate he was booked into jail at 12:39 a.m. Thursday. Court records show Soto lived in the same neighborhood where the attack took place.

Soto will be in court at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, according to online records.

The Rockford Police Department, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office and other federal officials are assisting in the investigation.