8 Shot Dead in 4 Illinois Crime Scenes; Gunman Kills Himself 1,200 Miles Away in Texas

An Illinois man suspected in the shootin deaths of eight people in Illinois was found dead Monday night in Texas.

US Marshals confronted Romeo Nance in Natalia, Texas, at about 8:30 p.m., and the confrontation ended when Nance shot himself, the Country Herald reported.

Joliet Police launched an extensive manhunt for the Nance, who was accused of shooting nine people in all across four separate crime scenes, WLS reported. Nance, 23, reportedly lived in one of the houses where the victims were found on Monday afternoon.

Police said that five people were found dead in one home and two in another and that those slayings were connected with the murder of another man and different location Sunday night. Ten minutes before that shooting, another man was wounded in a shooting that was captured on video.

Will County Sheriff Dan Jungles said investigators identified a suspect in that shooting but had not been able to locate him or the vehicle involved.

After about 12 hours, deputies went to Nance’s last known address and saw blood outside. When they made entry, they found two people shot dead and contacted Joliet Police.

Police said some of Nance’s relatives lived at the second house, where five people were found dead.

“I’ve been a policeman for 29 years, and this is the worst crime scene I’ve ever been associated with,” Joliet Chief Bill Evans said.

The sheriff’s office identified the first victim as Toyosi Bakare, 28. Investigators said Bakare is not believed to be related to Nance but was somehow connected with the suspect.

Identities of the other victims have not been released.

Police said Nance had a criminal history but did not provide details.

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[Featured image: Romeo Nance/Joliet Police Department]