Suspect Romeo Nance found dead in Texas after ‘killing 8’ during two day murder spree in Joliet, Illinois
A WANTED suspect believed to have killed eight people over a two-day period has been found dead 1,200 miles from the crime scene.
Cops launched a manhunt for Romeo Nance, 23, after seven bodies were found inside two homes in Joliet, Illinois, on Monday.
A man and woman were found dead inside one home while five other victims were located at a second house across the street in Joliet, a suburb of Chicago.
All of the victims suffered gunshot wounds.
Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans said it's believed that Nance knew the victims found in both houses.
"I've been a policeman 29 years," said Evans.
"This is probably the worst crime scene I've ever been associated with."
Joliet police quickly put out a prior mugshot of Nance and photos of a red Toyota Camry that he was believed to be driving.
They warned that he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Later on Monday, at about 8:30 pm local time, Nance was located in Natalia, Texas, about 30 miles outside San Antonio.
Natalia is roughly 1,200 miles from Joliet, or about a 19-hour drive.
US Marshals tracked Nance to a gas station, where he is said to have fatally shot himself.
Nance is believed to be behind three separate shootings over a two-day period.
A man was killed and another was injured in two shootings on Sunday in Joliet Township and the City of Joliet.
Just before 4:30 pm on Sunday, Will County deputies were called to an apartment complex where they found a man bleeding from the head from a gunshot wound.
The victim, 28-year-old Toyosi Bakare who came to the US from Nigeria three years ago, later died from his injuries.
About 10 minutes before that shooting, a 42-year-old man was shot in the leg and suffered injuries that were not life-threatening.
Police said the two victims weren't connected and that the shootings appeared to be random.
The identities of the seven people killed on Monday have not yet been released.
The motive behind the shootings is unclear as the investigation is ongoing.
CRIMINAL HISTORY
Nance was known to Joliet Police after he was arrested a year ago for allegedly firing a gun at a woman several times.
The 36-year-old woman was driving on January 2, 2023, when a black four-door sedan began honking behind her.
Police said a man pulled up next to the woman and threw a water bottle at her before following her car and pointing a gun at her.
The man allegedly shot at her multiple times before speeding away.
The woman's car was hit by gunfire but nobody was injured.
Nance was identified as the suspect in that case and was arrested on January 26, 2023.
He was charged with aggravated discharge of a weapon, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated assault, reckless discharge of a firearm, and obstructing a peace officer.
Nance has been free on bond since March 10, 2023, according to Will County jail records.
His next court date was scheduled for February 1.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
In 2019, Nance was arrested after he and a man were accused of stealing cell phones from two victims, however, the robbery charges were later dropped.
He pleaded guilty to a cannabis possession charge and was sentenced to time served in jail plus 30 hours of community service and 24 months probation along with obtaining a GED or high school diploma.
