Joliet, Illinois – Authorities have reported that Romeo Nance, a 23-year-old man wanted in connection to the fatal shooting of eight people across four separate crime scenes in Joliet, has been found dead in Texas. According to reports, Nance was discovered with a self-inflicted gunshot wound by US Marshals near Natalia, Texas, following a confrontation with the police.
The manhunt for Nance began on Sunday, January 21, after he was identified as a suspect in two separate shootings in Joliet. The first of which left 28-year-old Toyosi Bakare dead. On Monday, during surveillance on Nance’s home, authorities found seven people dead in two different residences. Nance reportedly lived in one of two homes where the gruesome discovery was made. The second home was inhabited by relatives of residents in the first home, however, police have not disclosed their identities.
CBS News reported that Nance was out on bond for a 2023 shooting case and was awaiting trial at the time of the shootings. According to the publication, he was previously arrested for aggravated discharge of a weapon involving a woman.
In the Sunday incidents, authorities outlined that a 42-year-old man was shot in the leg, followed by the fatal shooting of Toyosi Bakare, around 10 minutes later. Police said both shootings appeared to be random, and the victims weren’t connected but identified the suspect’s vehicle near both crime scenes.
The search for Nance eventually led to Texas, where he was located by US Marshals on Monday night. Following a confrontation with law enforcement, Nance died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities have yet to publicly identify the victims but said they were all from the same family. Police believe all seven victims knew Romeo Nance, but the connection between them remains unknown. As investigations into this tragic event continue, the community is left reeling from the senseless loss of life. This story serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing issue of gun violence in our society, and the devastating impact it has on communities.