JOLIET, Ill. – A 23-year-old man suspected of killing eight people in suburban Chicago has died from a self-inflicted wound in Texas, authorities said. The man, identified as Romeo Nance, shot seven people at two houses in Joliet, Illinois, before opening fire on two other men. Authorities believe that most of the victims were related to Nance.
The shootings, which resulted in seven deaths, occurred at two separate homes in Joliet. Investigators suspect that Nance then went on to target two additional men in separate shootings on Sunday afternoon. One of the men, a 28-year-old originally from Nigeria, tragically passed away from his wounds while the other survived.
Authorities later went to a home associated with Nance as part of their investigation and discovered fresh blood and what appeared to be gunshots. Inside, they found two people dead. In a home across the street, four women and girls aged 14, 16, 20, and 38, along with a 38-year-old man, were also discovered dead.
Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans revealed that all the victims were related to Nance, although the nature of their relationships is still being investigated. The circumstances leading to the shooting remain unclear, and authorities have been unable to discern Nance’s motivations.
Nance was later confronted by officials in Texas on Monday night and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This tragic incident has left the authorities and the community reeling as they try to make sense of the senseless killings.
Authorities continue to investigate, although they acknowledge that in many cases like this, they may never fully understand the truth or the motives behind such horrifying acts of violence.