Joliet shooting victims identified, suspect took his own life with a handgun

Update: Yesterday afternoon, the office of Will County Coroner Laurie Summers released identifying information of the seven victims from the homicides that occurred in two homes in the 2200 block of West Acres Road on Sunday, January 21, 2024.

At the onset of this investigation, Joliet Police Department Detectives quickly determined that the victims were believed to be family members of the suspect, who is now deceased after taking his own life near Natalia, Texas during the evening hours of January 22, 2024.

As this investigation continues, Detectives have established the following familial relationships between the victims and the suspect:

• Tameka Nance, 47 years old, mother
• Christine Esters, 38 years old, aunt
• William Esters II, 35 years old, uncle
• Joshua Nance, 31 years old, brother
• Alexandria Nance, 20 years old, sister
• 16-year-old female, sister
• 14-year-old female, sister

Original Report:

At approximately 8:30 PM this evening, the Joliet Police Department learned that Nance had been located by US Marshals near Natalia, Texas at which time it is believed that Nance took his own life with a handgun following a confrontation with Texas law enforcement officials.

Authorities in Joliet are actively pursuing a suspect who is evading capture following the discovery of seven deceased individuals in two residences in the south suburb on Monday afternoon.

Additionally, an eighth person lost their life in a shooting on Sunday night in Unincorporated Joliet Township.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office asserts a connection between the Sunday night shooting and the murders in Joliet today.

Joliet police reported the discovery of two deceased individuals in one residence and five more in another residence, all situated in the 2200 block of West Acres Road.

The names, genders, and ages of the victims have not been disclosed.

Will County Deputy Sheriff Dan Jungles stated that his deputies responded to a residence at 5 Pheasant Run Lane on Sunday evening, where they found an individual with a gunshot wound to the head.

The victim, identified as 28-year-old Toyosi Bakare, was transported to a local hospital and succumbed to his injuries. Jungles mentioned that Bakare, originally from Nigeria, had been residing in Will County for the past three years.

During their investigation, Will County deputies pinpointed a suspect vehicle that aligned with a prior shooting in Joliet, approximately 10 minutes earlier.

Despite their efforts, the deputies were unsuccessful in locating the suspect or the vehicle. The identified suspect was Romeo Nance, a resident of one of the two homes on West Acres Road involved in Monday’s incident.

Romeo was last seen at VASA Fitness around 9 a.m. on Sunday morning.

Deputy Sheriff Dan Jungles mentioned that his deputies initiated surveillance near Nance’s residence around midnight, but there was no sign of Nance.

After approximately 12 hours of surveillance, deputies approached the residence listed as Nance’s last known address. They observed blood outside and, upon entering, discovered two individuals who had been fatally shot. Subsequently, they contacted the Joliet Police Department.

Authorities mentioned that the second residence, where five individuals were discovered deceased, was occupied by some of Nance’s relatives.

Upon checking that house, they made the distressing discovery. Joliet Chief Bill Evans expressed, “I’ve been a police officer for 29 years, and this is the worst crime scene I’ve ever been associated with.”

Nance, described as a 23-year-old African American male, stands at 6 ft. 2 in. tall and weighs approximately 160 lbs. Police indicate they believe he is operating a red Toyota Camry with the license plate Q730412.

Nance is to be regarded as armed and dangerous. If you spot him, please call 911 or contact Joliet police immediately. Do not attempt to approach him independently.

Authorities have indicated that Bakare is not believed to be related to any of the victims discovered on Monday but is somehow linked to Nance.

While Nance is thought to have a criminal history, specific details were not provided by the police. The FBI Fugitive Taskforce is collaborating to locate him.

Police urge anyone with information about this incident to get in touch with the Joliet Police Department.