A suspected gunman, identified as 23-year-old Romeo Nance, who was believed to have killed eight people in Joliet, Illinois, has died in a confrontation with law enforcement officials in Natalia, Texas, according to the police.
Mr. Nance is suspected of carrying out the fatal shootings at multiple locations in Joliet, with seven victims discovered in two nearby houses on Monday, and the eighth victim found on the preceding Sunday.
The manhunt for Nance ensued, and authorities deemed him “armed and dangerous.”
US Marshals located him near Natalia at around 20:30 local time on Monday.
During a confrontation with Texas law enforcement officials, it is believed that Nance took his own life with a handgun.
Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans stated that they received a report of multiple people found shot dead at 12:04 local time on Monday.
Upon arrival at the scene on West Acres Road, seven bodies were discovered—five in one house and two in another, believed to be members of the same family.
The motive behind the attack is not immediately clear, but investigators believe that the suspect was acquainted with the victims.
Deputy Chief Dan Jungles described it as “probably the worst crime scene” he has encountered in his 25 years as a police officer.
Before the confrontation in Texas, authorities had identified Nance as driving a red Toyota Camry and urged anyone with information about the attack to come forward.
In a separate incident, authorities were informed of two shootings a day earlier at different locations in Joliet.
The car linked to the discovery of the seven bodies was spotted at both locations.
One of the shootings resulted in the death of a 28-year-old man, Toyosi Bakare, originally from Nigeria, who had been living in the US for the past three years.
Another 42-year-old man was shot in the leg earlier that day, sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.
