While home on leave, Green Beret Duke Webb is alleged to have launched a seemingly random attack at the Don Carter Lanes bowling alley in Rockford, Illinois.
The criminal complaint filed against Webb describes an unprovoked assault that began around 7 p.m. on December 26. On the first floor of the bowling alley, Webb allegedly opened fire on a group of teenagers sitting around a table, hitting a 14-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy. Thomas Furseth, 65, ran for the stairs but was gunned down before he made it.
The complaint alleges that Webb then went up to the second floor bar area, which was occupied by about 25 patrons. There, the complaint states that he shot and killed 73-year-old Dennis Steinoff and 69-year-old Jerome Woodfork, who subsequently tumbled off the balcony to the floor below. A 62-year-old man was also shot multiple times but survived the attack.
When police officers arrived on the scene, they took Webb into custody without further incident, recovering a .40 caliber Glock and a .380 caliber Glock pistol from his person, according to the criminal complaint.
Webb is a Sgt. 1st Class in 7th Special Forces Group stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, where he served as an 18F or Special Forces Assistant Operations and Intelligence Sergeant. According to the Army, Webb deployed to Afghanistan four times. A source speaking to Connecting Vets who worked alongside Webb said that he recently worked on a classified intelligence program run by Special Forces in Afghanistan.
"The alleged actions of Sgt. 1st Class Duke Webb are abhorrent and are absolutely not representative of the Special Forces Regiment," Major General John W. Brennan, commander of 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) said in a press statement.
"The vast majority of men and women Green Berets live up to their storied reputation and earn their beret every day. 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 complete cooperation. Our heavy hearts and prayers are with the families affected," Brennan continued.
Two soldiers who worked with Webb echoed similar sentiments as General Brennan, finding his actions to be completely out of character and done without any prior warning signs. Both soldiers spoke to Connecting Vets on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.
"He’s always been slightly odd and quiet but a good dude. I’m not sure why he went off the deep end. He’s a hell of a good Fox," one former teammate said of Webb. The soldier went on to say that he last talked to Webb a few weeks prior to the incident and everything sounded normal at the time.
"He's an odd duck, but I never saw this coming," a second soldier who worked with Webb described saying he was, "just kind of socially awkward. Not really getting some of the social cues." However, he also described Webb as a good person and a competent soldier.
At his first court hearing, Webb's attorney Elizabeth Bucko told the judge that her client suffers from PTSD and has experienced memory loss. Judge Debra Schafer denied Webb bond.
Reach Jack Murphy: jack@connectingvets.com or @JackMurphyRGR.
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