A 22-year-old man named Christian Soto has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder in a frenzied stabbing and beating attack that left four people dead and seven injured in Rockford, Illinois. Soto is also facing seven counts of attempted murder and home invasion with a dangerous weapon. The victims were identified as Romona Schupbach, Jacob Schupbach, Jay Larson, and Jenna Newcomb. Soto appeared in court and is being held without bond. Police do not yet know the motive for the attacks, but Soto claimed to have acted in a paranoid state after using drugs provided by Jacob Schupbach.
The attacks unfolded in a matter of minutes in a neighborhood of ranch-style homes in Rockford. The first response was to a home where Jacob Schupbach and his mother Romona were found dead. Witnesses reported seeing Jacob being chased and attacked by Soto, who proceeded to drive over him with a pickup truck. Jay Larson was later found stabbed to death in a front yard nearby. Ruth Mendonça of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service confirmed that Larson had been a mail carrier in the area for 25 years. The attack then escalated to a nearby home on Cleveland Avenue, where a mother and her adult children were injured by Soto.
Jenna Newcomb and two friends were watching a movie in their basement when Soto entered their home, covered in blood, and attacked them with a baseball bat. Jenna died trying to protect her sister and friend from further harm. Soto then broke into another home on Florence Street, stabbing a woman and attempting to steal a vehicle, before being stopped by a bystander. Soto was arrested by a sheriff’s deputy soon after fleeing the scene on foot. The woman and the bystander both survived the attack. Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara expressed deep grief and anger over the violent events.
Rockford, a city of about 150,000 people, has faced economic struggles in recent years due to industrial change and now relies heavily on manufacturing and healthcare industries. Despite efforts to revitalize the city, Rockford has faced challenges with violent crime, with increases reported since the COVID-19 pandemic. The stabbings on Wednesday occurred shortly after another stabbing incident at a Walmart in the city, adding to the community’s sense of grief and fear. Clergy members from different faiths led prayers at a vigil for the victims and survivors, emphasizing the shared pain and confusion felt by the community. The investigation into the motive behind Christian Soto’s violent attack continues.
