The suspect in one deadly shooting Saturday night at an Illinois bowling alley is a green beret. Duke Webb, a 37-year-old Florida resident, reportedly killed three people and injured three others on Don Carter Lanes in Rockford, Illinois.
He has been charged with three counts of first degree murder and three attempted first degree murder, police announced on Sunday.
Webb is being held without bond in the Winnebago County jail, police said at a news conference on Sunday. He must appear in court on Monday at 1.30 pm
His commander, Major General John Brennan, with 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne), issued a statement saying, “The alleged actions of Sergeant 1st Class Duke Webb are disgusting and are by no means representative of the Special Forces Regiment. The vast majority of men’s and women’s Green Berets live up to their legendary reputation and earn their beret every day. The actions described in reports are shocking and totally out of step with Webb’s 12 years of honorable service. The Rockford Police Department has our full cooperation. Our heavy hearts and prayers are with the affected families. “
According to the military, Webb is an assistant Special Forces operations and intelligence sergeant assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Camp Bull Simons at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. He joined the army in 2008 and was on leave on Saturday.
The military said it will aid in the investigation.
Rockford police chief Dan O’Shea said the three dead were a 73-year-old man, a 69-year-old man and a 65-year-old man. Two of the injured were teenagers, O’Shea said. A 14-year-old boy was shot in the face and an airlifted to a hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, where he is now in stable condition. A 16-year-old girl was shot in the shoulder and taken to a local hospital and later released after being treated for the wound. A 62-year-old man was also injured and in critical condition.
O’Shea said the shooting is considered an arbitrary act and “there is no prior meeting or relationship of any kind between the suspect and the victims in this case.”
According to O’Shea, Webb was taken into custody without incident, although he reportedly tried to hide his weapons and cover up his identification. O’Shea also said that most of the shooting was recorded on CCTV cameras inside the building.
WIFR-TV
The bowling alley itself was closed due to the state COVID-19 lockdown, but a bar above the bar was open, which is allowed under the current restrictions. The two teens were there to pick up food for takeout, O’Shea said.
“The Don Carter Lanes family and the entire bowling community are in shock at this act of pure evil,” said Bowling Alley owner Brand Sommer, CBS partner WIFR-TV said. “Our collective prayers go out to the families of the victims. God please help them all. So sad that one sick person is causing so much misery. We are grateful for the swift and professional actions of the law enforcement agencies that further loss of life by the gunman so quickly. to arrest. “