Illinois Gunman Kills Eight People, Including His Relatives, Drives to Texas, and Kills Himself After Manhunt

Romeo Nance. Photo/Joliet Police

A 23-year-old man suspected of killing eight people in Joliet, Illinois, reportedly fled to Texas and eventually killed himself during a dispute with law enforcement in the city of Natalia. According to ABC 7 Chicago, Romeo Nance killed eight of nine people that he shot during a shooting spree. Police said Romeo was related to most of the people he targeted at two homes; "They have been identified as 38-year-old Christine Esters, 47-year-old Tameka Nance, 35-year-old William Esters II, 31-year-old Joshua Nance, 20-year-old Alexandria Nance, a 16-year-old girl and 14-year-old girl. At this time, it remains a mystery as to why he shot the victims. It was even more puzzling why the 23-year-old traveled to Texas, roughly 1,200 miles from his home in Illinois. 

According to ABC, "Joliet police said two of the shootings, one on Davis Street and one on Pheasant Run Lane, "appear to be more random in nature" than the other two shootings, in which Nance targeted multiple relatives. At about 4:15 p.m. Sunday, Will County officials said a man was injured in a shooting in Joliet in the 200 block of Davis Street. In that incident, a 42-year-old man was shot in the leg and suffered non-life threatening injuries. Another victim that Nance opened fire on was 28-year-old Toyosi Bakare, who died from his injuries at the hospital, according to ABC. According to NBC, Toyosi was a Nigerian immigrant, and there is likely no connection between the two men. 

NBC reports that "Nance had an extensive criminal history. Will County court records show he had at least 19 charges dating back to 2019, but most were for traffic violations." Attorney Jordan Kielian, who has represented Nance in past cases, said Tuesday that Nance was due in court Feb. 1 in connection with a charge of aggravated discharge of a firearm after an alleged road rage dispute." "Nance was also reportedly charged with robbery in 2019 and charged last year with obstructing a police officer and possession of a firearm without the requisite owner's identification card, according to ABC."  

At this time, there has been no statement from Nance's family. Law enforcement was unable to establish a motive for the string of brutal murders; "We may never know the truth or motives," Dan Jungles, the chief deputy of criminal investigations at the Will County Sheriff's Office said, as reported by ABC.

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