JOLIET, Ill. — Nine people were found dead in the suburb of Joliet, Illinois, in a tragic series of events where a 23-year-old man is suspected to have taken the lives of eight individuals before dying from a self-inflicted wound in Texas, authorities have reported.
Romeo Nance was linked to the deaths of seven people in shootings at two homes followed by him opening fire at two other men. The victims included five women and three men, most of whom were related to the suspect. The identity of the victims has not been made public by the police. Nance was found dead after being confronted by law enforcement officers in Texas, following an intense search, and took his own life with a handgun.
The investigation into the motive behind the shootings remains ongoing, and authorities are yet to uncover the exact relationship between Nance and the victims at the scene. Meanwhile, Will County Sheriff’s Office officials mentioned that Nance was also wanted in connection with two other shootings on Sunday, one of which left a 28-year-old man dead and another man injured but expected to survive. The vehicle that Nance had been driving was spotted at both of those locations.
Officials continue to piece together the circumstances that led to the tragedy, with Chief Bill Evans stating, “We just don’t have any clue as to why he did what he did.” Detectives are still gathering additional information and evidence as part of the ongoing investigation, in an attempt to understand the motives behind these senseless killings.
The tragic events have left the community in shock and mourning, with many questions remaining unanswered about the events leading to the fatal shootings. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of the victims as they cope with the devastating loss of their loved ones.