Jolliet, Illinois – Police vehicles and orange cones blocked off two homes on West Acres Road in Joliet Tuesday morning, the site of a shocking crime scene that has left the suburban police in disbelief.
The man wanted in connection with the fatal shootings of eight people in the Joliet area, Romeo Nance, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Monday night after being pursued by U.S. marshals in Texas. As of Tuesday morning, only one of the victims, Toyosi Bakare, had been identified by officials. The incident has left residents of the typically quiet and safe neighborhood in fear, with many expressing their surprise and concern at the situation.
Finding the suspect came after the Medina County sheriff’s office in Texas received a call that he was heading into the county Monday night. Nance then died at about 8:30 p.m. after a confrontation with law enforcement at a gas station in Natalia, about 30 miles southwest of San Antonio.
The Will County sheriff’s office discovered five people dead in one home and two in another home on West Acres Road, with the victims appearing to have died from gunshot wounds. Joliet police Chief Williams Evans described the crime scene as one of the worst he’s ever seen. The homes’ front yards were surrounded with caution tape that flapped gently as rain drizzled down Tuesday morning.
The community’s response to the crime has been mixed, with some residents expressing shock and fear, while others are relieved that the suspect has been found. The motive for the killings remains unknown, and authorities have revealed that Nance knew the victims, although no age range of the victims has been released.
Nance has a history of prior charges, including aggravated discharge of a firearm, aggravated assault, and other criminal offenses in the area. The incident has left the community shaken and searching for answers as investigators continue their work.