Four people, including a teenage girl, were killed and at least five injured after a man went on a stabbing spree at multiple addresses in the US state of Illinois, police have said.
The stabbings took place on Wednesday afternoon, Rockford City Police said in a statement, adding that a 22-year-old suspect was taken into custody.
The statement did not say anything about a possible motive.
Rockford is located about 90 miles northwest of Chicago.
Those killed included a 15-year-old girl, a 63-year-old woman, and two men aged 49 and 22, according to the police.
The police statement said that five people had been wounded, but US media later cited the police saying seven were wounded.
Police said the motive for the attacks remained unclear.
The home invasion occurred on Florence Street but the attacks unfolded at multiple locations, police say.
Winnebago Country Sheriff Gary Caruana said a young woman had sustained stab wounds to her hands and face after being seen running away from the suspect.
The woman is now in hospital and is being intubated.
Another man, described by Sheriff Caruana as a “good Samaritan”, sustained less serious stab wounds after trying to intervene to help the woman.
Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd said that not all of the victims had been stabbed, but added that none had suffered gunshot wounds.
She said police did not believe there were any other suspects at large.
“Words can’t even express my thoughts right now…” she said. “My heart goes out to the families right now who are suffering a loss.”
Rockford resident Ruth Gallagher told CBS her long-time postman was among the dead, while the US Postal Service confirmed that a postman had been killed.
“He was the kindest person,” Ms Gallagher said. “He would help anybody, would step in and help. Always friendly. It’s just devastation for all of us. It’s just a nightmare.”
In a statement, Rockford city mayor Tom McNamara said his heart was “breaking for those who have lost their lives, their families and our community”.
“This is, obviously, a huge blow to all of us,” he said. “However, in Rockford fashion, we get knocked down, sometimes too much, but we always get back up stronger.”
He added that free counselling services would be made available on Thursday and Friday at Flinn Middle School in Rockford.
Culled from BBC