In a tragic turn of events, the suspected shooter in the Chicago suburb killings, Romeo Nance, has been discovered dead in Natalia, Texas, following a confrontation with US Marshals.
Nance, 23, took his own life with a handgun, closing a desperate manhunt that spanned over 1,000 miles from the crime scene in Joliet, a south Chicago suburb.
The grim discovery of seven victims shot to death in two homes had triggered an urgent search for Nance, who was also linked to two additional shootings on Sunday. Authorities had warned the public of his armed and dangerous status.
The identity of the victims believed to be from the same family, has not been disclosed as investigators grapple with piecing together Nance’s motive. Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans, leading the investigation, stated that the suspect had a connection with the victims, but further details remain elusive.
The shooting spree occurred within homes and is believed to be connected to the two additional shootings on Sunday. Toyosi Bakare, a 28-year-old originally from Nigeria, was one of the victims killed in Sunday’s incidents. He had been residing in the Will County area for the past three years.
The connection to Nance unfolded when his red Toyota Camry was spotted near the locations of Sunday’s shootings. Law enforcement began surveilling the 2200 block of West Acres, where Nance was last known to reside.
Despite knocking on doors and receiving no response, deputies identified a house connected to the victims. A subsequent entry revealed a gruesome scene, with two dead victims showing signs of violence.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are seeking information from the public. The profound impact of the crime scene has left law enforcement deeply affected.
Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans, with nearly three decades of policing experience, described it as “probably the worst crime scene” he has encountered in his career.
The motive behind Nance’s deadly actions remains unknown, adding an air of mystery to the tragic events. The manhunt and subsequent discovery have brought a degree of closure, yet questions linger about what drove the suspect to commit such a heinous act.
