Joliet, Illinois – A tragic shooting incident has left eight people dead and another wounded in the Chicago suburbs over the weekend, authorities revealed on Tuesday. The suspected shooter, 23-year-old Romeo Nance, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a confrontation with law enforcement in Texas.
According to Illinois authorities, Nance was related to most of the victims, and investigators believe that all of the shootings occurred on Sunday. Police stated that Nance first shot seven people at two relatives’ homes in Joliet, then proceeded to fire at two men in separate locations. However, authorities have not been able to determine the motive behind the killings.
The victims found at the Joliet homes were identified as 38-year-old Christine Esters, 47-year-old Tamaeka Nance, 35-year-old William Esters II, 31-year-old Joshua Nance, and 20-year-old Alexandria Nance. The names of two teenage girls, aged 14 and 16, were not released. Additionally, a man identified as Toyosi Bakare, originally from Nigeria, was killed outside an apartment building.
Nance was located in Texas, despite having no known ties to the state, after U.S. Marshals tracked him down near Natalia. The Texas Rangers are currently investigating Nance’s death, as they believe he shot himself during the confrontation with law enforcement.
This incident marks the fourth mass killing in the U.S. this year, as defined by a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University. The tragic event has left the community in shock, with many struggling to comprehend the senseless violence that unfolded over the weekend in the Chicago suburbs.
As more details emerged about the sequence of events, authorities continue to work towards understanding the circumstances leading up to the shootings. The tragic loss of life in such a violent manner has deeply impacted the local community, leaving many with unanswered questions and a sense of collective grief.