Joliet, Texas – Federal authorities located a suspect in the fatal shooting of eight people in the Joliet area, and the suspect took his own life with a gun after a confrontation with police in Texas. Romeo Nance, 23, was found by agents with the U.S. Marshals’ Office near Natalia, about 30 miles southwest of San Antonio.
Joliet police officials learned about the suspect’s location at 8:30 p.m. Monday. The search for Nance began after seven people were found shot to death in two separate homes in the 2200 block of West Acres Road, as well as an eighth person killed in a shooting in the township area the day before. The victims are believed to be related, according to Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans.
Nance was released on bond from the Will County jail in connection with an unrelated shooting case. Authorities have connected the West Acres Road killings to the deadly shooting of Toyosi Bakare, 28, a former resident of Nigeria, as well as the shooting of a 42-year-old man in the 200 block of Davis Street in Joliet. Both shootings took place about 10 minutes apart on Sunday.
Police are working with the Will County Sheriff’s Office and an FBI fugitive task force in their investigation. They have asked the public to report any sightings of Nance and advised against attempting to take the suspect into custody.
The incident has left neighbors feeling frightened and shocked, unsure of what actions to take with the suspect still at large. Rachel Carr, a neighbor, expressed her uncertainty about where to sleep and what precautions to take until Nance is in custody. Another neighbor, Amber Pajaeu, voiced her shock and nervousness, especially with children in the area.
Nance’s history includes an arrest a year ago for a car chase in which he repeatedly shot at a woman in another vehicle. The incident led to charges of aggravated discharge of a weapon, reckless discharge of a firearm, and aggravated assault, among others.
Despite the tragic events, local authorities have vowed to do everything in their power to bring the person responsible for these heinous crimes to justice.