JOLIET, Ill. – A man suspected of fatally shooting eight people in the suburbs of Chicago was found dead after a confrontation with law enforcement officials in Texas. The suspect, 23-year-old Romeo Nance, shot himself near Natalia, Texas, about 30 miles southwest of San Antonio, police confirmed on Monday night.
Authorities in Joliet, Illinois, had been on the lookout for Nance after he was suspected of killing eight individuals at three separate locations in the Chicago suburbs. The FBI’s fugitive task force had joined the search efforts to locate the suspect, who was considered armed and dangerous. Nance was known to the victims, but a motive for the killings had not been determined.
The Medina County Sheriff’s Office in Texas revealed details of the confrontation between Nance and law enforcement at a gas station after a call reported his presence in the area. The standoff ended with Nance taking his own life, concluding the search for the suspect responsible for the string of violent crimes.
During a news conference, authorities shared that the victims were discovered at different residences over a two-day period. A significant number of victims were found at two homes in Joliet, while another victim was found outside apartments in Will County. Autopsies were pending to determine the time of death for the victims.
Police presence heightened in the neighborhood where the victims were found, leaving residents like Teresa Smart uneasy and anxious about their safety. The community remained on edge as law enforcement worked to piece together the events leading up to the tragic shootings. The identities of the victims were not immediately disclosed to the public, leaving many families in the area concerned for their safety.
Chief William Evans of the Joliet Police Department described the crime scene as one of the worst he had seen during his 29 years as a police officer. The investigation into the shootings continued as authorities attempted to provide closure for the devastated families affected by the violent acts. The community rallied together to support one another during this difficult time as law enforcement worked diligently to bring justice to those impacted by the tragedy.