Joliet Mass Murder Suspect Romeo Nance Kills Eight Victims, Including Teenage Girls, Before Taking His Own Life

– Joliet shooting victims
– Teenage girls killed.

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Joliet Mass Murder Suspect Believed to Have Killed Eight Victims

Joliet, Illinois – In a shocking and tragic incident that has rocked the city of Joliet, a mass murder suspect named Romeo Nance is believed to have killed all eight of his victims on Sunday. The victims include two teenage girls, three women, and three men. The gruesome crime scene was discovered by police on Monday, with Nance later taking his own life while on the run in Texas.

Details surrounding the motive for the massacre remain unknown, as police have been unable to determine why Nance committed such a heinous act. Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans expressed his frustration, stating, “We can’t get inside his head. We just don’t have any clue as to why he did what he did.” The incident has left a profound impact on both the city of Joliet and the police agency, with Chief Evans describing the situation as mentally and physically challenging.

Investigators have determined that Nance, 23, fatally shot seven individuals, most of whom were his relatives, in two homes located on West Acres Road. After committing the initial murders, Nance carried out two “random” shootings in the area before fleeing Will County, according to Chief Evans. The bodies were discovered in the homes on Monday, but investigators now believe the shootings took place on Sunday afternoon.

The victims found in one of the homes were identified as two girls aged 14 and 16, along with two women and a man named Alexandria Nance, 20, Christine Esters, 38, and Joshua Nance, 31. In the other home across the street, the bodies of 47-year-old Tamaeka Nance and 35-year-old William Esters II were found. The names of the two teenage girls have not been released.

The close proximity of the homicides to Joliet West High School has led to concerns within the community. While the school has not confirmed whether the two teenage girls were students there, crisis management support will be made available due to the emotional impact on students and staff.

Chief Evans, who has been a policeman for 29 years, described the crime scene as the worst he has ever encountered. Investigators are still working to establish the exact relationships between Nance and the victims, as it is believed that he was related to a majority, if not all, of the residents of the two homes. After carrying out the initial murders, Nance shot two additional men, one of whom died, before fleeing the area.

Law enforcement authorities identified a red Toyota Camry, known to be used by Nance, as being connected to the shootings of the two men. Deputies set up surveillance on the registered owner’s residence, but when they failed to locate the vehicle, they visited a home across the street where Nance was known to stay. Upon discovering blood on the front door and fresh gunshot markings, deputies entered the home and found two bodies. Five more bodies were discovered in the other home by a team of law enforcement officials. At that point, investigators were confident that Nance had already left the area.

A search for Nance involved multiple agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force. They tracked him to a gas station in Natalia, Texas, approximately 30 miles southwest of San Antonio. Nance fatally shot himself outside the gas station while being pursued by task force officers after fleeing from his vehicle. Investigators believe that Nance had stolen Texas license plates for his vehicle at a mall in an attempt to evade law enforcement, although his connection to the state of Texas remains unclear.

According to Will County court records, Nance had an extensive criminal history. He had been released on bond for multiple gun-related charges, including aggravated discharge and reckless discharge of a firearm, stemming from an arrest in January 2023. It is worth noting that Nance’s arrest occurred before the implementation of the state’s bail reform.

As Joliet mourns the loss of eight innocent lives, the community is urged to come together and begin the healing process. The motive behind Nance’s senseless killings may never be fully understood, leaving the city in shock and disbelief..

All Joliet shooting victims teenage girls were killed Sunday police say
Joliet shooting victims teenage girls killed Sunday police say.