Man Suspected of Shooting and Killing Eight People in Suburban Chicago, Including Relatives, Before Fatally Shooting Himself in Texas

man Suspected of Killing Eight People in Suburban Chicago Identified as Romeo Nance

CHICAGO — Authorities have identified the man suspected of shooting and killing eight people in suburban Chicago as 23-year-old Romeo Nance. In a tragic turn of events, Nance fatally shot himself during a confrontation with law enforcement in Texas.

Clearer Timeline of Shootings Emerges

Illinois authorities provided a clearer timeline of the shootings on Tuesday, revealing that they believe all eight people killed and a ninth person wounded were shot on Sunday. Nance then fled the area, leaving investigators puzzled about the motive behind the killings.

Police believe Nance first targeted two relatives’ homes in Joliet, where he shot seven people. He then randomly fired at two men, one outside an apartment building and another on a residential street. The exact relationships between Nance and the victims are still being determined.

Victims Identified

The Will County coroner has identified the victims found at the Joliet homes as 38-year-old Christine Esters, 47-year-old Tamaeka Nance, 35-year-old William Esters II, 31-year-old Joshua Nance, and 20-year-old Alexandria Nance. The names of two teenage girls, aged 14 and 16, have not been released. The man killed outside the apartment building has been identified as 28-year-old Toyosi Bakare, originally from Nigeria.

Confrontation and Suicide

After a nationwide manhunt, Nance was located by U.S. Marshals near Natalia, Texas. He fatally shot himself during a confrontation with law enforcement officers. Authorities have confirmed that Nance had no known ties to Texas.

investigation ongoing

The Texas Rangers are currently investigating Nance’s death. Lieutenant Jason Reyes, spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety, has stated that the Rangers believe Nance shot himself. Further details about the circumstances of Nance’s death are yet to be revealed.

Fourth Mass Killing in the U.S. This Year

The Illinois shootings mark the fourth mass killing in the U.S. this year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern university. A mass killing is defined as an attack in which four or more people, excluding the perpetrator, are killed within a 24-hour period.

As the investigation into this tragic incident continues, authorities are working to uncover Nance’s motive for the killings and provide answers to the grieving families and community affected by this shocking event.

Information for this article was contributed by Jake Bleiberg, Todd Richmond, Claire Savage and Lisa Baumann of The Associated Press.