Rockford is located just east of the city of Chicago, in the state of Illinois.
The police assume that there is only one perpetrator. Nothing is yet known about his motive. The stabbings took place over a period of 20 minutes.
‘Horrific violence’
The deceased victims are a 15-year-old girl, a 22-year-old man, a 49-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman.
The injured have been admitted to hospitals with serious injuries. The condition of one of them is critical. American media report that two people were also injured just outside Rockford, in Winnebago County.
Among the injured is a young woman who tried to flee. She was stabbed in the face and hands. A person who wanted to help her was also stabbed.
Postman among the dead
The local postman is among the dead, eyewitnesses say. “We will miss him enormously,” said one of them. “He was so friendly. He was always willing to help anyone who asked.”
Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara expressed his condolences. He said in a statement on social media that he was “shocked by the horrific violence against innocent members of our community.”
