A manhunt spanning over 1,200 miles concluded when 23-year-old Romeo Nance, a suspect in a series of fatal shootings in Joliet, Illinois, was found dead in Natalia, Texas.
Police confirmed late Monday, January 22, 2024, that Nance, from Joliet, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a confrontation with U.S. Marshals near San Antonio.
The ordeal began in the 200 block of Davis Street in Joliet, a Chicago suburb, at approximately 4:17 p.m. on Sunday, January 21. A 42-year-old man was shot in the leg, sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.
Shortly after, in a rural area of Joliet Township at the Pheasant Run apartment complex, sheriff’s deputies discovered 28-year-old Toyosi Bakare with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
Both shootings were linked to a red Toyota Camry, later connected to Nance.
On Monday, January 22, in two residences on West Acres Road in Joliet, authorities found seven dead victims. Five people were discovered in one residence and two in another.
According to Joliet Chief of Police Bill Evans, Nance was related to most of these victims, ranging in age from teenagers to older adults.
In the first home, on West Acres Rd., which is the suspect’s last known address, authorities found two teenage girls, aged 14 and 16; two adult women, 20-year-old Alexandria Nance and 38-year-old Christine Esters; and 31-year-old Joshua Nance.
Across the street on West Acres Rd., two more victims were located: 35-year-old William Esters II and 47-year-old Tameka Nance.
Joliet authorities reported that at approximately 8:30 p.m. Monday night, they were informed by U.S. Marshals that Nance had been found in the vicinity of Natalia, Texas. During an encounter with law enforcement officers, Nance fatally shot himself with a handgun. Natalia is situated about 30 miles southwest of San Antonio.
Police Chief Evans remarked that, in his nearly three decades of service, these crime scenes were among the most distressing.
Nance’s criminal record revealed that he had previously been arrested for a serious offense involving a woman and the discharge of a weapon. According to court documents, Nance was released on bail pertaining to the shooting incident in 2023 and was still awaiting trial.
When questioned about whether the Joliet Police had received any reports of domestic incidents at residences on West Acres Road, Chief Evans declined to provide a definitive answer. He simply mentioned that Nance had an extensive criminal history and was familiar to the police.