State Attorney J. Hanley, in Winnebago County, Illinois, identified the victims as Thomas Furseth, 65, Jerome Woodfork, 69, and Dennis Steinhoff, 73. Three other people – including two minors – were injured in the shooting on Saturday.
The gunman was identified as Duke Webb, 37, who is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder. He was denied mortgage on Monday.
Webb acknowledged the shooting on Saturday and led officers to the sites of the firearm he used during the incident, Hanley said.
Police believe the shooting incident was a random attack, Rockford Police Chief Daniel O’Shea said.
Webb, who is in the military, will be evaluated for PTSD, according to his lawyer Elizabeth Bucko.
Victims shot on first and second floor
According to the indictment, Rockford police received a call for active shooters at Don Carter Lanes around 6:55 p.m. According to the news release from Hanley’s office, there is a bowling alley on the first floor and a bar on the second floor.
Upon arrival, officers learned that several people had been shot at. A 16-year-old girl was shot in the shoulder while sitting at a table with three other teenagers. A 14-year-old boy has been shot in the face and is currently in a critical condition in hospital.
Furseth was on the first floor when the shooting started, he was running up the stairs when he was shot in the upper body. He reached the second floor before collapsing. He was pronounced dead when officers arrived, the release said.
Webb then went upstairs where there were between 20 and 25 people at the bar, according to the release. According to the release, he fired a number of shots at the bar people, including Steinhoff and Woodfork.
Steinhoff was shot in the upper body and his body was found on the balcony outside the bar.
Woodfork’s body was found in the parking lot under the balcony. A witness told officers they saw him fall from the balcony. Woodfork was dead when officers arrived, the release said.
There was also a 62-year-old man at the bar who was shot in the left thigh, back, neck groin and buttocks. He has not been identified and is alive but in critical condition, the release said.
The shooting was captured on video surveillance. According to the release, which was behind his suitcase, Webb sent officers to the firearms he was using. Officers recovered Glock .40 and a Glock .380 caliber.
Several 0.40-caliber and 0.380-caliber casings were found at the scene.
Webb was a green beret in the army
The U.S. military has confirmed that Webb is a sergeant major currently serving in the 3rd Battalion, the 7th Special Forces Group, as an assistant operations and intelligence sergeant. The unit is based at the Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
Webb joined the Army in 2008 and was on leave according to the Army when the shooting occurred. From 2009-2020, Webb offered four separate tours in Afghanistan, including from January to July this year.
The Army said in a statement that it would continue to assist the Rockford Police Department in its investigation.
“We are shocked and saddened to learn of this tragic event and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed and wounded,” said Col. John W. Sannes, commander of the 7th Special Forces Group, said.
Webb’s Commanding General Maj.Gen. John W. Brennan also released a statement.
“The alleged actions of Sergeant 1st Class Duke Webb are appalling and are by no means representative of the Special Forces Regiment. The vast majority of men and women, Green Berets, live up to their great reputation and deserve their beret every day,” he said. Brennan said. “The actions described in reports are shocking and completely out of character with Webb’s 12 years of honorable service. The Rockford Police Department has our full co-operation. Our heavy hearts and prayers are with the families affected.”
CNN’s Michael Callaghan, Dave Alsup, Hollie Silverman and Alaa Elassar contributed to this report.