Romeo Nance, Joliet Mass Murder Suspect, Dies In Texas: JPD

JOLIET, IL — Romeo Nance, the 23-year-old Joliet criminal defendant who is suspected of killing seven people on the street where he lived, West Acres Road, plus a 28-year-old man from Nigeria at Joliet Township's Pheasant Run apartments over the weekend, took his own life Monday night in Texas, Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English confirmed.

Nance died at a gas station in Natalia, Texas. The back license plate on Nance's red Camry contained state of Texas license plates that register to a pickup truck out of Fort Worth, Texas, a source told Joliet Patch.

During the investigation, Joliet police detectives said they quickly identified Nance as a suspect in the homicides on West Acres Road, and it was believed he was also involved in a fatal shooting being investigated by the Will County Sheriff’s Office as well as a non-fatal shooting in the city of Joliet.

At approximately 8:30 p.m., Monday, the Joliet Police Department said they learned Nance had been found by U.S. Marshals near Natalia, Texas, at which time it is believed Nance took his own life with a handgun following a confrontation with Texas law enforcement officials.

Identification of the Joliet victims and manner of death will be determined by the Will County Coroner’s Office. Further information will be provided once it becomes available, English noted.

Joliet police said five gunshot victims were found at 2212 West Acres Road and two more of the slain gunshot victims at 2225 West Acres Road. Romeo Nance had lived at 2212 West Acres Road, according to last January's Will County Jail records.

Earlier in the day, the Will County Sheriff's Office and Joliet police announced that they were looking for Nance and the red Camry he was believed to be driving.

For more, read the CBS Chicago report here.

Joliet Patch mass murder coverage from West Acres:

8 Dead In Joliet Shootings On West Acres Road, Joliet Township