Man Wanted for the Murders of 8 People in Illinois Killed During Confrontation With U.S. Marshals in Texas

An Illinois man wanted in the shooting deaths of eight people near Chicago allegedly took his own life while police were chasing him down at a gas station in Texas, according to authorities.

At a news conference, police in Illinois laid out the timeline of this two-day manhunt for 23-year-old Romeo Nance, KABB reported.

Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans said, “We just don’t have any clue as to why he did what he did.”

Around 12 p.m. on Jan. 22, police were notified of an incident in Joliet. Officers responded to the area and found seven people who had been shot to death in two residences, WMAQ-TV reported.

The first victims, four females — aged 14, 16, 20 and 38 — and one 38-year-old male, were all found shot to death inside the same home, officials said.

Evans said, "I've been a policeman for 29 years. This is probably the worst crime scene I've ever been associated with.”

The next victims, a 47-year-old female and 35-year-old male, were found in a home directly across the street. Authorities said all seven victims were related and knew Nance.

Based on the description of Nance’s red Toyota Camry, Nance was also wanted in connection with two separate shootings that took place on Jan. 21, police said.

The first incident took place around 4:15 p.m., when a 42-year-old man was shot in the leg. About 10 minutes later, officers responded to an apartment complex in Joliet Township for a reported shooting.

Authorities found a man bleeding from his head with an apparent gunshot wound. Officials said the victim, later identified as 28-year-old Toysi Bakare, later died from his injuries.

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Police said both shootings appeared to be random, and the victims weren't connected to each other.

After discovering the bodies on Jan. 22, Evans said they were “confident that the offender had fled the area, and was no longer in Will County or the city of Joliet.”

Around 6 p.m. on Jan. 22, Illinois police were working with the U.S. Marshals and they believed Nance was traveling in the state of Texas, WMAQ reported.

Jungles said, "By around 8 p.m., a helicopter had located the suspect vehicle on I-35, and Texas law enforcement was mobilizing additional resources to stop the vehicle.”

Nance reportedly pulled into a gas station — armed with a firearm — and fled from the vehicle. Police chased him, but he rounded the corner of the gas station and reportedly took his own life, authorities said.

His red Toyota Camry was now bearing Texas license plates, officials said. They believe Nance stole them at an area shopping mall.

Jungles added, "With so much sadness that surrounds these incidents, it is time for our communities to come together and heal.”