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 Saturday shooting.
The shooter was identified as Duke Webb, 37, who has been charged with three counts of first degree murder and three counts of attempted first degree murder. Monday he was denied bail.
Webb admitted to the shooting on Saturday and led officers to the locations of the firearm he used in the incident, Hanley said.
Police believe the shooting was a random attack, Rockford Police Chief Daniel O’Shea said.
Webb, who is in the military, will be assessed for PTSD, according to his attorney Elizabeth Bucko.
Victims were shot on the first and second floors
Rockford police received a call from an active gunman on Don Carter Lanes at around 6:55 p.m. Saturday, according to the prosecuting document. According to a press release from Hanley’s office, the company contains a bowling alley on the first floor and a bar on the second floor.
Upon arrival, officers learned that several people had been shot. A 16-year-old girl was shot in the shoulder while sitting at a table with three other teens. A 14-year-old boy was shot in the face and is currently in a critical condition in hospital, court documents said.
Furseth was on the first floor when the shooting started, he started running for the stairs when he was shot in the torso. He reached the second floor before collapsing. He was pronounced dead when officers arrived, the release said.
Webb then went upstairs where, according to the release, between 20 and 25 people were sitting at the bar. He “fired several shots” at the bargoers, including Steinhoff and Woodfork, the release said.
Steinhoff was shot in the torso 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 is unidentified and alive, but in critical condition, the release said.
The shooting was recorded on video surveillance. Webb sent officers to the firearms he used, according to the release, that were behind his bag. Officers recovered a Glock .40 and a Glock .380 caliber.
Multiple .40-caliber and .380-caliber shell casings were found on site, the release said.
Webb was a green beret in the military
The United States Army confirmed that Webb is a First Class Sergeant currently assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group as an Assistant Sergeant Operations and Intelligence. The unit is based at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
Webb joined the military in 2008 and was on leave when the shooting took place, according to the military. Webb conducted four different tours in Afghanistan from 2009-2020, including from January to July this year.
The military said in its statement that it will continue to assist Rockford police in the investigation.
“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,” said Colonel John W. Sannes, commander of the 7th Special Forces Group.
Webb’s commander, Major General John W. Brennan, also issued 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 the men’s and women’s Green Berets live up to their legendary reputation and deserve their beret every day,” said Brennan. “The actions described in the reports are shocking and do not fit Webb’s 12 years of honorable service at all. The Rockford Police Department has our full cooperation. We have heavy hearts and prayers with the affected families.”
CNN’s Michael Callaghan, Dave Alsup, Hollie Silverman and Alaa Elassar contributed to this report.