Rockford community remembers Jason Jenkins one year after his death

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) - On March 24, 2024, a stabbing at the Walmart on Northridge Drive ended with the death of 18-year-old Jason Jenkins, an employee just doing his job.

That date will forever be etched into Rockford’s history book and marks the start of a series of tragedies to hit the stateline in the days that followed.

“Justice for Jason” were the words chanted at a vigil for Jenkins one year ago and they still echo off the walls of the Walmart where he lost his life.

Police say the 18-year-old was working that day when 28-year-old Timothy Carter stabbed him in the back. According to witness reports, Carter had wandered the store with multiple knives and shouted slurs at shoppers.

At a press conference in April 2024, Jenkins' mother, Nila, said her son was a happy person who put others before himself and that he had made plans for his senior prom just before the attack.

“My child is not the only one who was in there working,” Nila said. “It could have been me he could have targeted. It could have been an old lady he could have targeted.”

Heather Rykes was one of the witnesses that day. She says what she heard haunts her to his day.

“There were some kids that were like just messing around with each other and like being really loud over there, and that actually was causing me some anxiety,” Rykes said. “That just happened within the last month.”

She says the Northridge Drive Walmart is the closest to her home so she still shops there. But, she shares it’s with a keen eye on her surroundings

Rockford Mayor Tom Mcnamara says he also can’t shake the memories of that fateful day.

“The community still mourns Jason’s loss. He hasn’t been forgotten,” McNamara said. “He stayed with me every day of this past year.”

But by saying Jenkin’s name, McNamara hopes to keep the teen’s memory alive.

“Each time our community steps up and tries to find ways to support and many times don’t know how to do that. But if it is just constantly saying Jason’s name, if it’s getting out and telling his story, if it’s showing up, to honor him,” McNamara said.

The mayor expresses how special it is that in the wake of such tragedy, all differences throughout the Forest City were set aside to support a family in need.

“There were hundreds there to show Jason that we were still thinking of him and loving him, but also to, as a community, wrap our arms around Jason’s entire family. I mean, you got there, and you could see it looked like Rockford,” McNamara said. “People of different races. I’m sure they had different sized bank accounts. I’m sure they had different political affiliations. I’m sure they lived on different sides of the city of Rockford, but they were there to support Jason.”

A balloon release will be held Monday night at the Northridge Drive Walmart in Jenkins' honor.

Timothy Carter is expected to be in court Friday, Mar. 28. He faces first-degree murder and hate crime charges in the attack.