The extensive search for 23-year-old Romeo Nance, a suspect in a string of deadly shootings in Joliet, Illinois, ended when he was discovered dead in Natalia, Texas, over 1,200 miles away.
Late Monday, January 22, 2024, law enforcement agencies confirmed that Nance, a Joliet resident, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after an encounter with U.S. Marshals near San Antonio.
On Sunday, January 21, the sequence of events began around 4:17 p.m. in the 200 block of Davis Street in Joliet, a suburb of Chicago. A man, aged 42, was shot in the leg but survived with non-life-threatening injuries.
Shortly afterward, in a remote location of Joliet Township at the Pheasant Run apartment complex, sheriff’s deputies found 28-year-old Toyosi Bakare dead from a gunshot wound to the head.
Both incidents were linked to a red Toyota Camry, which was later associated with Nance.
On the following day, January 22, authorities discovered seven deceased individuals in two houses on West Acres Road in Joliet. Five victims were found in one house, and two in another.
Joliet’s Chief of Police Bill Evans stated that Nance was related to most of the victims who ranged in age from teenagers to older adults.
At the first house on West Acres Rd., which was Nance’s last known address, authorities discovered two teenage girls, aged 14 and 16; two adult women, Alexandria Nance, 20, and Christine Esters, 38; and 31-year-old Joshua Nance.
Across the street on West Acres Rd., two more victims were discovered: William Esters II, 35, and Tameka Nance, 47.
According to Joliet authorities, at about 8:30 p.m. Monday, the U.S. Marshals informed them that Nance had been located near Natalia, Texas. During a confrontation with law enforcement, Nance shot himself fatally with a handgun. Natalia is approximately 30 miles southwest of San Antonio.
Chief Evans, with nearly 30 years of service, stated these crime scenes were among the most gruesome he had encountered.
Nance’s criminal history showed a previous arrest for a severe incident involving a woman and a firearm. Court records indicate that Nance was out on bail related to the 2023 shooting incident and was still awaiting trial.
When asked if the Joliet Police had received any domestic disturbance reports at the residences on West Acres Road, Chief Evans did not give a clear answer. He simply remarked that Nance had a significant criminal record and was known to the police.
