President Biden said he was deeply shocked by a recent stabbing incident in Rockford, Ill., in a statement on Thursday.
“[First lady Jill Biden] and I were shocked to hear about the violent attack in Rockford last night, which led to the deaths of four people, including a fifteen-year-old,” Biden stated. “Seven others were sadly injured due to this meaningless violence. We are praying for the families of those who lost loved ones, and hoping for a full recovery for all those wounded.”
In the statement, Biden also expressed gratitude for the courageous actions of local law enforcement, who apprehended the suspect and prevented more loss of innocent lives.
Authorities announced on Thursday that Christian Soto, 22, has been accused of four counts of first-degree murder for the stabbings and beatings on Wednesday that led to the deaths of four people, reports The Associated Press. Soto also faces seven counts of attempted murder and home invasion with a deadly weapon.
“Federal law enforcement have offered all possible help to local law enforcement as they investigate this atrocious act,” Biden stated in the Thursday report.
Biden also assured that his administration “will make every effort to assist the people of Rockford and the wider community in recovering from this traumatic incident.”
“Families across America desire the same thing: the freedom to feel secure in their community,” Biden stated. “That is my priority and the reason we’ve made significant investments to provide communities with resources and law enforcement officers to prevent and combat crime. This tragic incident is a reminder that we must continue to ensure that our police and first responders have the support they need to do their jobs and keep us safe.”
Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.), whose district includes Rockford, stated Wednesday in a message on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that he is “grateful for quick actions of our police who were able to catch the suspect and prevent additional harm to our neighbors in Rockford.”
“I want the victims and their families to know I am keeping them in my thoughts and praying for those who are in recovery,” Sorensen continued in his post.
The Associated Press contributed.
