An army sergeant was charged in this weekend’s bowling alley shooting, which left three dead and three more injured, officials announced Sunday.
Authorities charged Duke Webb, a 37-year-old active army sergeant from Shalimar, Fla., Of three counts of first degree murder and three counts of attempted first degree murder. He is being held in the Winnebago County Jail without bond and his first hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday, according to prison records.
Rockford, Illinois, Police Chief Dan O’Shea identified Webb during a press conference, saying officials did not believe there was a link between the suspect and any of the victims of Saturday’s shooting.
“We think this was a completely arbitrary act, and there is no prior meeting or any kind of relationship between the suspect and the victims in this case,” O’Shea said.
Webb is an assistant operations and intelligence sergeant of the special forces assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), based at Camp Bull Simons, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., According to a Statement by the army. He joined the military in 2008 and was on leave when the shooting took place.
“We are shocked and saddened to hear about this tragic event and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the dead and wounded,” Colonel John W. Sannes, commander of the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) said in a statement. .
Shooting took place at Don Carter Lanes, a bowling alley and bar, and left three men aged 73, 65 and 69 dead. The suspect also injured a 62-year-old man in critical condition, a 14-year-old boy who was flown to a hospital in Madison, and a 16-year-old girl who was treated and released from a hospital. local hospital.
O’Shea said agents arrived within a minute of receiving multiple 911 calls. The suspect was taken into custody minutes after police arrived without officers firing weapons.
The Rockford Register Star reported earlier that this year was the city’s deadliest year since 1965, with 35 murders. The next highest was 31 murders documented in 1996.