Joliet, Illinois – Authorities have revealed that a man suspected of shooting and killing eight people in suburban Chicago was related to most of the victims. The 23-year-old man fatally shot himself during a confrontation with law enforcement in Texas on Monday, a day after the shootings occurred.
According to Illinois authorities, all eight people killed and a ninth person wounded were shot on Sunday. The suspect, Romeo Nance, then fled the area that evening, leaving behind a trail of mystery as there is no evidence of a motive yet for the killings.
Police believe that Nance first shot seven people at two relatives’ homes in Joliet on Sunday, then randomly fired at two men in different locations. The exact relationships between the victims and Nance are still under investigation.
The victims of 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, 20-year-old Alexandria Nance, and two teenage girls aged 14 and 16. Another victim, Toyosi Bakare, a 28-year-old man originally from Nigeria, was shot and killed outside an apartment building.
Nance was located near Natalia, Texas, about 30 miles southwest of San Antonio, and more than 1,000 miles from Joliet. It was confirmed that he had no known ties to Texas. His death was announced hours after Illinois authorities used social media and a news conference to share initial details of the killings.
The Texas Rangers are now investigating Nance’s death and believe he shot himself, as reported by the Texas Department of Public Safety. The Illinois shootings represent the fourth mass killing in the U.S. this year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in a partnership with Northeastern University. The victims were found at three separate homes over two days.
The Chief Deputy revealed that deputies used video surveillance and license plate readers to identify the car of the suspected shooter late Sunday and set up patrols near his known addresses. When authorities found Nance’s last known address in Texas, they discovered blood on the door and bullet holes on the exterior of the house.
Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans described the crime scene as the worst he had ever seen in his 29 years as a policeman. The investigation continues as authorities work to piece together the events leading up to the tragedy.