Winnebago County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Gambino has had many chases, but none have been more significant than the one on March 27.
Gambino chased, caught and arrested Christian Soto, 23, of Rockford, an act that police say ended a killing spree that resulted in the deaths of four people — mother and son, Romona Schupbach and Jacob Schupbach, who were stabbed to death in their home , US Postal Service letter carrier Jay Larson, who was stabbed and run over with a truck while on his mail route, and 15-year-old Jenna Newcomb who was beaten to death in her home.
Seven other people were injured.
The deputy was on patrol in New Milford when he heard the call on the radio for a battery and an armed man in a residential area east of Alpine and south of Charles Street.
The deputy of three years was already on his way to assist Rockford police when he heard two people had been killed.
Watch video: Home security cameras captured Rockford mass stabbing suspect fleeing police
Gambino arrived to find Rockford police, firefighters and ambulances already in the area, but the suspect was still at large.
He drove to Cleveland Avenue. There, residents began pointing him to the spot where the suspect was last seen running.
Gambino continued driving, following the arms and hands of people venturing out of their homes to help police apprehend the attacker. He drove onto Cleveland, then Skokie Drive, then Eggleston Road, where he finally saw the man running.
“I saw a male subject who fit the description perfectly,” he said. ‘He had blood everywhere. I called it (on the radio) and the foot chase began.”
Gambino, along with other deputies and police officers, ran after Soto, unsure if he was armed.
“He was running south past a house, and as soon as I saw him grabbing the fence, I could see both of his hands. So at least at that point I knew he didn’t have a gun in his hands.” Gambino said.
After jumping two fences, Gambino took Soto to the ground. Seconds later, a Rockford officer and a Loves Park officer were next to him.
“I’ve done a lot of foot chases, but nothing like this,” he said. “It wasn’t until afterwards that I knew how much destruction he had caused.”
Gambino has received citations for his heroic actions.
“If you look at all the evidence, if he’s not stopped, he’s still trying to get into homes to hurt people,” Deputy Chief Rick Ciganek said of Soto. “If Deputy Gambino, the Rockford Police Department and the Loves Park Police Department did not intervene, more people would get hurt.”
Soto is being held in the Winnebago County Jail on multiple first-degree murder charges.
He has pleaded not guilty.
Chris Green is a general assignment reporter at the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached at 815-987-1241, via email at cgreen@rrstar.com and @chrisfgroen.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Sheriff’s deputy reflects on deadly threat in Rockford neighborhood
