WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderSchool security stepped up following Halloween party shooting

School security stepped up following Halloween party shooting

ROCKFORD (WREX) - The number of police officers in several Rockford schools has been increased following a deadly shooting at a Halloween party.

Around 1:00 a.m. Sunday, 16-year-old Deangelo Link and 19-year-old Nathan Melendez-Torrance were shot and killed at a Halloween party at 814 Kilburn Avenue. Two other people at the party were also shot. They were treated and released from an area hospital.

Detective Sgt. John Eau Claire, who is supervising the investigation for the Rockford Police Department, said the victims were hit multiple times. So far police do not have any suspects in custody.

One witness told 13 News she heard around 20 shots. Neighbors across the street - whose house was struck several times by bullets - said at least 10 shots rang out.

"We're sure there are people out there who were there, who know what happened and we are urging them to please come forward and understand that two people lost their lives in this incident," Eau Claire said.

One help could be a police video camera that was installed earlier this year, located just a few feet away from the house.

"Obviously any camera or video stuff is always an assistance to us," Eau Claire said.

Link was a student in District 205. As a result extra security has been put into place at Guilford High School and the Fresh Start Program at Page Park where students may have known Link. Extra officers will also be in Auburn High School this week. Grief counselors will be in those schools as well.

The murders are the 16th and 17th in Rockford this year.