2024 Joliet Shootings
Mass Shooting Incident
CLASSIFICATION: Mass Murder
LOCATION
Joliet, Illinois
TIME PERIOD
January 21, 2024
VICTIMS
9 confirmed
On January 21, 2024, a mass shooting occurred in Joliet, Illinois, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals and one injury. The perpetrator, 23-year-old Romeo Nance, initiated the spree at approximately 4:15 PM CST, first shooting a 42-year-old man on Davis Street before moving to the Pheasant Run Apartments in Preston Heights, where he fatally shot 28-year-old Toyosi Bakare. Following the shootings, Nance was identified through surveillance footage, and law enforcement discovered the bodies of his mother, Tameka Nance, and uncle, William Esters II, in his home, both victims of gunshot wounds. Nance ultimately took his own life on January 22, 2024, near Natalia, Texas, after being confronted by law enforcement. This incident marks the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. for 2024 and the most lethal in Illinois history.
Romeo Nance's relationship to seven of the victims has led to speculation that the shootings were motivated by familial conflict or personal grievances. Some believe that the spree was a planned act of familicide, given the targeted nature of the victims. Additionally, there are theories that Nance's actions may have been influenced by mental health issues, as evidenced by his subsequent suicide following the shootings.
The 2024 Joliet Shootings: A Tragic Spree Through Illinois
A Day of Horror
On a cold day in January 2024, the quiet communities in and around Joliet, Illinois, were shattered by a series of violent events that would mark the deadliest mass shooting in the United States that year. It was January 21 when 23-year-old Romeo Alexander Nance embarked on a spree that left a total of eight people dead and one person injured. This horrific incident was not only the deadliest in the nation for 2024, but it also became the most lethal in Illinois history, surpassing previous tragedies in Highland Park and Palatine.
The Unfolding Chaos
The afternoon sun had barely begun its descent when, at around 4:15 PM CST, Nance initiated his deadly rampage. Driving through the 200 block of Davis Street in Joliet, he encountered a 42-year-old man retrieving items from his car. The two exchanged a few words before Nance drove away, only to return moments later. Without warning, he opened fire, wounding the man in the leg before speeding off into the distance.
Just ten minutes later, the tranquility of the Pheasant Run Apartments complex in Preston Heights was violently disrupted. Police, responding to the scene, discovered 28-year-old Toyosi Bakare with a gunshot wound to the head. Despite efforts to save him, Bakare succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.
The Investigation Begins
The Will County Sheriff's Office quickly sprang into action. Surveillance footage from both crime scenes provided a crucial lead, enabling officers to identify both Nance and his vehicle. However, the trail soon went cold as they struggled to locate him. Determined, deputies staked out Nance's home on West Acres Road in Joliet by midnight.
After a tense 12-hour vigil, the officers made their move. The discovery was grim: outside the house lay signs of blood, prompting them to enter. Inside, the bodies of Tameka Nance, 47, and William Esters II, 35, were found. Tameka was Romeo's mother, and William his uncle, both victims of gunshot wounds.
The horror continued to unfold as officers checked a neighboring house, also inhabited by Nance's relatives. There, they found the lifeless bodies of 37-year-old Christine Esters, 31-year-old Joshua Nance, 20-year-old Alexandria Nance, 14-year-old Angel Nance, and 16-year-old Alonnah Nance, all of whom had been shot.
A Desperate Escape
As investigators pieced together the carnage left behind, Nance was already making his way south to Texas. In an attempt to evade capture, he reportedly stopped at a mall to switch his car's license plates with Texas plates, hoping to mislead authorities. But his efforts proved futile. At approximately 8:30 PM CST on the following day, U.S. Marshals tracked him down at a gas station just outside Natalia, Texas. Cornered, Nance chose to end his life, fatally shooting himself during a standoff with police.
Untangling the Motive
While the motive for this familial massacre remained unclear, authorities speculated that Bakare had some undisclosed connection to Nance. Despite the perpetrator's death, the investigation into his past revealed a troubled history. In 2018, Nance faced charges for armed robbery involving a knife. More recently, in January 2023, he had been arrested for allegedly firing a weapon during a road rage incident.
The Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
In the wake of the shootings, the ripples of Nance's actions continued to affect those around him. His girlfriend, Kyleigh Cleveland-Singleton, was arrested and charged with felony obstruction of justice. Judge David Carlson ordered her to remain on home confinement pending further proceedings. On February 9, 2024, she entered a plea of not guilty.
The investigation did not stop there. On May 31, 2024, Jon Hansen, a 24-year-old from Shorewood, Illinois, was arrested and charged with three counts of murder, attempted first-degree murder, and aggravated battery with a firearm. Hansen, who had been with Nance during the Joliet shootings, was accused of disposing of the weapon used in the murders by discarding it into the DuPage River.
Sources
For the full original account of this tragic event, please refer to the Wikipedia article on the 2024 Joliet shootings.
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Spree Shooting Begins
Romeo Nance opens fire in Joliet, killing eight.
First Victim Identified
Toyosi Bakare is shot at Pheasant Run Apartments and later dies.
Perpetrator Identified
Surveillance footage helps identify Romeo Nance as the shooter.
Nance's Family Found
Law enforcement discovers multiple family members dead in Nance's home.
Nance Attempts Escape
Nance drives to Texas, attempting to evade capture.
Nance Commits Suicide
Confronted by police, Nance fatally shoots himself.
Girlfriend Arrested
Kyleigh Cleveland-Singleton is charged with obstruction of justice.
Girlfriend Pleads Not Guilty
Cleveland-Singleton pleads not guilty to obstruction charges.
Accomplice Arrested
Jon Hansen is arrested for his involvement in the shootings.
On January 21, 2024, a mass shooting occurred in Joliet, Illinois, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals and one injury. The perpetrator, 23-year-old Romeo Nance, initiated the spree at approximately 4:15 PM CST, first shooting a 42-year-old man on Davis Street before moving to the Pheasant Run Apartments in Preston Heights, where he fatally shot 28-year-old Toyosi Bakare. Following the shootings, Nance was identified through surveillance footage, and law enforcement discovered the bodies of his mother, Tameka Nance, and uncle, William Esters II, in his home, both victims of gunshot wounds. Nance ultimately took his own life on January 22, 2024, near Natalia, Texas, after being confronted by law enforcement. This incident marks the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. for 2024 and the most lethal in Illinois history.
Romeo Nance's relationship to seven of the victims has led to speculation that the shootings were motivated by familial conflict or personal grievances. Some believe that the spree was a planned act of familicide, given the targeted nature of the victims. Additionally, there are theories that Nance's actions may have been influenced by mental health issues, as evidenced by his subsequent suicide following the shootings.
The 2024 Joliet Shootings: A Tragic Spree Through Illinois
A Day of Horror
On a cold day in January 2024, the quiet communities in and around Joliet, Illinois, were shattered by a series of violent events that would mark the deadliest mass shooting in the United States that year. It was January 21 when 23-year-old Romeo Alexander Nance embarked on a spree that left a total of eight people dead and one person injured. This horrific incident was not only the deadliest in the nation for 2024, but it also became the most lethal in Illinois history, surpassing previous tragedies in Highland Park and Palatine.
The Unfolding Chaos
The afternoon sun had barely begun its descent when, at around 4:15 PM CST, Nance initiated his deadly rampage. Driving through the 200 block of Davis Street in Joliet, he encountered a 42-year-old man retrieving items from his car. The two exchanged a few words before Nance drove away, only to return moments later. Without warning, he opened fire, wounding the man in the leg before speeding off into the distance.
Just ten minutes later, the tranquility of the Pheasant Run Apartments complex in Preston Heights was violently disrupted. Police, responding to the scene, discovered 28-year-old Toyosi Bakare with a gunshot wound to the head. Despite efforts to save him, Bakare succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.
The Investigation Begins
The Will County Sheriff's Office quickly sprang into action. Surveillance footage from both crime scenes provided a crucial lead, enabling officers to identify both Nance and his vehicle. However, the trail soon went cold as they struggled to locate him. Determined, deputies staked out Nance's home on West Acres Road in Joliet by midnight.
After a tense 12-hour vigil, the officers made their move. The discovery was grim: outside the house lay signs of blood, prompting them to enter. Inside, the bodies of Tameka Nance, 47, and William Esters II, 35, were found. Tameka was Romeo's mother, and William his uncle, both victims of gunshot wounds.
The horror continued to unfold as officers checked a neighboring house, also inhabited by Nance's relatives. There, they found the lifeless bodies of 37-year-old Christine Esters, 31-year-old Joshua Nance, 20-year-old Alexandria Nance, 14-year-old Angel Nance, and 16-year-old Alonnah Nance, all of whom had been shot.
A Desperate Escape
As investigators pieced together the carnage left behind, Nance was already making his way south to Texas. In an attempt to evade capture, he reportedly stopped at a mall to switch his car's license plates with Texas plates, hoping to mislead authorities. But his efforts proved futile. At approximately 8:30 PM CST on the following day, U.S. Marshals tracked him down at a gas station just outside Natalia, Texas. Cornered, Nance chose to end his life, fatally shooting himself during a standoff with police.
Untangling the Motive
While the motive for this familial massacre remained unclear, authorities speculated that Bakare had some undisclosed connection to Nance. Despite the perpetrator's death, the investigation into his past revealed a troubled history. In 2018, Nance faced charges for armed robbery involving a knife. More recently, in January 2023, he had been arrested for allegedly firing a weapon during a road rage incident.
The Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
In the wake of the shootings, the ripples of Nance's actions continued to affect those around him. His girlfriend, Kyleigh Cleveland-Singleton, was arrested and charged with felony obstruction of justice. Judge David Carlson ordered her to remain on home confinement pending further proceedings. On February 9, 2024, she entered a plea of not guilty.
The investigation did not stop there. On May 31, 2024, Jon Hansen, a 24-year-old from Shorewood, Illinois, was arrested and charged with three counts of murder, attempted first-degree murder, and aggravated battery with a firearm. Hansen, who had been with Nance during the Joliet shootings, was accused of disposing of the weapon used in the murders by discarding it into the DuPage River.
Sources
For the full original account of this tragic event, please refer to the Wikipedia article on the 2024 Joliet shootings.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Spree Shooting Begins
Romeo Nance opens fire in Joliet, killing eight.
First Victim Identified
Toyosi Bakare is shot at Pheasant Run Apartments and later dies.
Perpetrator Identified
Surveillance footage helps identify Romeo Nance as the shooter.
Nance's Family Found
Law enforcement discovers multiple family members dead in Nance's home.
Nance Attempts Escape
Nance drives to Texas, attempting to evade capture.
Nance Commits Suicide
Confronted by police, Nance fatally shoots himself.
Girlfriend Arrested
Kyleigh Cleveland-Singleton is charged with obstruction of justice.
Girlfriend Pleads Not Guilty
Cleveland-Singleton pleads not guilty to obstruction charges.
Accomplice Arrested
Jon Hansen is arrested for his involvement in the shootings.