Four people have been killed and at least five injured after a man armed with a knife went on a rampage in the US state of Illinois.
Police in Rockford say the attacks occurred following a home invasion on Wednesday afternoon. One of the injured is in a critical condition.
The victims are a 15-year-old girl, a 63-year-old woman, a 49-year-old man and a 22-year-old man.
A man, 22, has been arrested and is being questioned by police.
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.
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.
