A 37-year old U.S. serviceman from Florida was charged with three murders after opening fire at an Illinois bowling alley in what authorities have called a random attack, numerous sources reported.
Duke Webb was charged with three counts of murder and three counts of first-degree attempted murder in the Saturday shootings at Don Carter Lanes in Rockford, Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley announced, according to Rockford Police.
NEWS: An active duty soldier in the @USArmy went into a bowling alley in Rockford IL., (80 miles from Chicago) last night, & shot 6 people, police say.
3 died.
The suspect Duke Webb, 37, from FL., has been arrested.
The deceased victims were 73, 69, & 65.https://t.co/xfZFXxcXm4 pic.twitter.com/jwNbkPq3n0— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) December 27, 2020
RELEASE: Murder Investigation at Don Carter Lanes; Suspect in Custody. pic.twitter.com/Yjn8ueNXhs
— RockfordILPolice (@RockfordPD) December 27, 2020
Three men, aged 73, 65, and 69 died in the attack, and a 14-year-old boy was shot in the face and was in stable condition at a local hospital. A 16-year-old girl was shot in the shoulder and later released from the hospital.
A 62-year-old man remains in critical condition after undergoing surgery following multiple gunshot wounds. (RELATED: 3 Dead, 3 Injured In Random Illinois Bowling Alley Shooting, Police Say)
“We believe this was a completely random act, and there is no prior meeting or any kind of relationship between the suspect and any of the victims in this case,” Rockford Police Chief Dan O’Shea said.
Police believe Webb was a lone attacker, and took him into custody shortly after the shooting, O’Shea said at a news conference Sunday morning. O’Shea added that police arrived on scene within one minute of the first calls to dispatch.
The bowling alley was closed during the shooting, but a bar upstairs was open and had double doors open to the outside in accordance with state pandemic guidelines. Up to 25 people were at the building, and most of them fled or hid during the shooting.
The Army released a statement affirming their cooperation with the Rockford Police Department as they investigate the shooting. Webb is a special forces assistant operations and intelligence sergeant, based in Florida. He joined the Army in 2008 and was on leave during the shooting, the statement said.
“We are shocked and saddened to learn about this tragic event and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed and wounded,” Col. John W. Sannes said in the statement.