An Illinois man was taken into custody on Wednesday for purportedly committing a series of stabbings and assaults that resulted in four deaths and seven injuries.
WLS stated that Christian Soto, 22, initially carried out a home invasion that caused a young woman to be hospitalized in critical condition with stab wounds to her face and hands. Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana stated that Soto also stabbed a Good Samaritan who stopped to assist the fleeing woman.
At some point, Rockford police received a report about someone being stabbed or hit by a car outside a residence. Officers who arrived at the scene found the bodies of Jacob Schupbach, 23, and Ramona Schupbach, 63. Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley mentioned that they were possibly stabbed, NBC News reported.
Witnesses said they saw Soto pursuing Jacob Schupbach across the street before stabbing him as he lay on the ground. Soto then purportedly ran over the victim at the end of a driveway.
NBC News reported that Jacob Schupbach managed to stand up and escape, but Soto exited the vehicle and followed him into a home. Soto was seen leaving the home a short time later.
The reported incidents occurred in Rockford and Winnebago County.
Soto supposedly admitted to getting into his car and killing a mailman who was later identified as Jay Larson, 49. According to WLS, a witness said they saw Soto attacking and punching Larson before getting a knife from his truck and stabbing him. Soto reportedly also ran over Larson with his car.
“He was in his underwear, covered in mud. And just, I don’t know if he got hit by it at all, but he was on the ground, trying to get away from the truck,” a resident told the news outlet.
Police also received a 911 call about an assailant, presumably Soto, attacking people in a home with a “katana-style knife.” Three people in that residence sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Soto later entered another home through a back door. He then took a bat and went to the basement where three girls were watching movies. He demanded the girls tell him where a gun was before attacking them with a bat as they ran to a bedroom, according to Hanley.
Soto ultimately left the home. Officials confirmed that Jenna Newcomb, 15, died in that attack.
“Jenna’s mom wants the community to know that Jenna died saving her sister and her friend and protecting them from further harm,” Hanley said.
Soto purportedly informed police that he was friends with one of the victims, and they went to his home to smoke marijuana. Soto claimed the victim gave him marijuana laced with an unknown narcotic before the deadly rampage, WLS reported.
Held without bond, Soto is charged with murder, attempted murder, and home invasion. A motive remains under investigation.
[Feature Photo: Christian Soto/Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office]