A 37-year-old Florida soldier has been charged with indiscriminate shooting at an Illinois bowling alley, killing three men and wounding three.
Prosecutors said Duke Webb, who was arrested on the spot, has been charged with three murders and three attempted first degree murder.
“We believe this is a completely arbitrary act,” Rockford Police Chief Dan O’Shea said at a news conference on Sunday. “There is no prior meeting or relationship of any kind between the suspects and the victims.”
Police arrived at Don Carter Lanes in Rockford while still firing inside on Saturday night. They rushed in and quickly found Webb, trying to hide his two pistols, in a crowd of about 25.
The killed victims, whose names were not released, were between the ages of 69 and 73. A 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl were injured but are in a stable condition; a 62-year-old man who was injured has undergone overnight surgery and is in critical condition.
Police said the shooting, which was captured on security video, took place in a bar connected to the bowling alley that operated in accordance with pandemic restrictions.
“We have three families mourning the loss of their loved ones,” said Rockford Mayor Thomas McNamara.
“As we come to the end of this most difficult year and look ahead to this new year that is just around the corner, we know this kind of violence must end.”