Suspect in custody for fatal stabbing under Whitman Street bridge

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Shawn Bunton, Jr, 24, accused of stabbing 37-year-old Kyle Stephens to death beneath the Whitman Street Bridge earlier this month, is in custody Friday afternoon.

Bunton, Jr. was booked into the Winnebago County Jail at 3:17 p.m.

According to Rockford Police, at 3:25 a.m. on October 14th, officers were called to the scene to address a “noise complaint” and found Stephens dead at the scene.

Investigators identified Bunton Jr. and Varianna Parsons, 20, as suspects in the crime.

Witnesses told police they heard a male and female yelling beneath the Whitman Street Bridge, near the 700 block of Madison Street.

According to court documents, authorities said Bunton Jr. had pursued Stephens and pinned him against a wall, making “thrusting motions” toward him, after which Stephens tumbled down and embankment.

“[The witness] thinks that what ever they did to him after Kyle ran off is what caused Kyle to die,” police wrote in their report. “She said Varianna threw the bat/pipe into the river or field and Shawn threw the knife in the river.”

One of the witnesses told officers that people she was with—referring to Parsons and Bunton—”just killed a guy” and stole her wallet, car keys and phone.

Both Bunton and Parsons have been charged with first degree murder and obstruction of justice.

Parsons was taken into custody but was granted pre-trial release the following day, a decision that has sparked opposition from community members, including Mayor Tom McNamara and Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley.

In memory of Stephens, a GoFundMe has been created by his family, raising over $2,400 to cover cremation costs and a memorial service.