22-year-old Christian Ivan Soto charged with stabbing 4 to death, injuring 7 in Illinois after attempted robbery

On Wednesday, a knifeman went on a stabbing rampage in the town of Rockford, Illinois, killing four and leaving seven injured. 

The suspect, 22-year-old Christian Ivan Soto, was tracked down and arrested a short time later. He was subsequently charged with multiple counts of murder, attempted murder, and home invasion.

According to the CNN, Rockford Police responded to addresses on Holmes Street, Winnetka Drive, and Cleveland Avenue amid reports of a home invasion in progress.

Upon arriving at the scene, they discovered that things had become violent. Eleven victims, four of whom had been killed, were found in the area. The deceased included a 15-year-old girl, a 63-year-old woman, a 22-year-old man, and a 49-year-old man. The latter was identified as the mailman.

Less than half an hour later, police caught up with Soto and, following a brief struggle, took the "bloodied" suspect into custody. In the early hours of Thursday morning, Soto was booked into Winnebago County Jail, where he remains.

"We don’t have a clear motive in regard to what caused this individual to commit such heinous crimes," Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana explained during a press conference. He noted that not all the victims had been stabbed, but did not reveal what had caused their injuries.

Caruana said that one of the victims, a young woman, "got some stab wounds in her hands and in her face," while fleeing from Soto. "She is currently at a hospital, and she is intubated," he added. "She is in serious condition."

A bystander who came to her rescue was also stabbed, and survived.

"It's hard to grasp how this could happen and how emotional and raw the community is tonight," Mayor Tom McNamara wrote in a Facebook post. "As a dad, a son, a husband, the mayor and a Rockford supporter, my heart is breaking for those who have lost their lives, their families and our community."