Dead Couple At Liberty Meadows Identified By Coroner

JOLIET, IL — A couple in their forties who lived together at the Liberty Meadows housing development off Briggs Street has been identified by the Will County Coroner's Office. Coroner Patrick O'Neil announced that 43-year-old Kimiki Truss died around 5 a.m. at the Silver Cross Hospital Emergency Room on Memorial Day. She died of multiple gunshot wounds.

The man who lived with her, Nakia Smith, 44, was pronounced dead at their residence in the 1200 block of Justice Lake Drive. Smith died of multiple gunshot wounds as well and he was pronounced dead around 8:10 a.m. on Memorial Day, O'Neil said.

Monday's initial police press release about the case was sent out by the Will County Sheriff's Office failed to mention that Truss had died. The press release did state that the man, now identified as Smith, began firing his gun at the Joliet Police officers and he was subsequently shot and killed by the police.

A review of Will County court records shows no criminal history for either Truss and Smith and there were no orders of protection involving the couple. Grieving family members told Patch at the scene on Monday that the two had been together for a while and that they had lived at their house on Justice Lake Drive for several years.

The development is affiliated with the Joliet Housing Authority. Years ago, it was the site of the Poole Gardens public housing complex. Liberty Meadows draws few calls for police service.

Here is the Joliet Patch's first article on the Joliet Police case.