The Rockford community is shaken by the violent attacks that happened on Cleveland Avenue near Harrison Ave. and Alpine Rd. on Wednesday afternoon.
ROCKFORD � Rockford community members are reeling after four people were killed and seven others were injured in a series of violent attacks in a neighborhood on the city's southeast side Wednesday.
The attacks happened on Cleveland Avenue near Harrison Avenue and Alpine Road shortly after 1 p.m. on March 27.
"I looked down the street and there were just cops lining the street, and I saw them put up the tape. I was like, 'Oh, so something really bad happened,'" said resident Olivia Little.
Little said she was returning from a trip to the grocery store when she noticed her normally quiet neighborhood had turned into a crime scene.
"This is very much a neighborhood where people are walking, kids outside playing, people walking their dogs, so that's really hard to hear happening just a few houses down is crazy," she said.
Winnebago County Chairman Joseph Chiarelli said that as a former Alderman of the 14th Ward where the attack took place, the senseless act hits close to home.
"We're doing everything we can to keep everyone safe in our community, but this kind of act of violence is not going to continue to be tolerated," Chiarelli said.Â
Rockford Police and county officials are working with several agencies to identify the suspect's motive.
Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd said, "Right now, we don't have a clear motive as to what caused this individual to commit such a heinous crime."Â
The violence of the attacks is something that residents in the southeast Rockford neighborhood say they never thought they would be in the middle of.
"You hear about it happening, just not here, not this neighborhood," said Little.Â
Emotional support services will be available at Flinn Middle School at 2525 Ohio Pkwy., from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. Rosecrance will have counselors available for adults and children impacted by the attacks.
