JOLIET, Ill. – A man wanted for perpetrating a series of shootings in Joliet, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals, has been located by authorities and confirmed deceased. Romeo Nance, 23, the prime suspect in the shootings that occurred at four distinct locations, was found by US Marshals in Natalia, Texas, according to the Joliet police. Reports suggest that Nance took his own life following a confrontation with law enforcement officials in Texas.
The tragic incident unfolded when Joliet police responded to reports of multiple casualties at two residences on West Acres Road. Seven bodies were discovered at one property, while two more were found at another. The identities of the victims have not been released to the public. A night prior, deputies from the Will County Sheriff’s Office were summoned to a home on Pheasant Run Lane, where they found 28-year-old Toyosi Bakare with a fatal gunshot wound. Bakare, originally from Nigeria, succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.
Authorities further disclosed that an additional shooting incident involving a 42-year-old victim took place before these events unfolded. Surveillance footage captured the assailant firing at the victim from a red Toyota Camry before fleeing the scene. Following an extensive search, deputies located Nance at his last known address, where they made a grim discovery of two more deceased individuals.
Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans expressed his shock at the gruesome crime scenes, labeling it as one of the worst he’s encountered in his 29-year policing career. Despite the connections established between Nance and some of the victims, authorities clarified that Bakare was not directly related to the tragic events. Nance, believed to have a criminal record, evoked a sense of urgency among law enforcement, urging the public to come forward with any relevant information pertaining to the case.