(NewsNation) — A manhunt ended Monday evening after a man connected to a string of attacks over two days in Joliet, Illinois, and Will County that left eight dead and one injured died by suicide during a confrontation with authorities in Texas.
Authorities say the seven people were found shot to death around noon Monday inside two homes in the 2200 block of West Acres Road in Joliet.
Five people were found dead in one home and two people were found dead in another. The victims included four women ages 14, 16, 20 and 38, plus a 38-year-old male in one home and a 47-year-old woman and 35-year-old male in the other. The names of the victims have not yet been released.
A three-year-old child was unaccounted for, but later located at a relative’s home, authorities said.
Police say the people found dead in both homes were all related to each other and confirmed suspect Romeo Nance, 23, was related to the victims. Police did not specify if there were previous domestic violence or other incidents at the homes, but did say they were familiar with the address.
Nance was also a suspect in Sunday’s random homicide and shooting in Joliet Township, authorities said.
Around 8:30 p.m. Monday night, he died by suicide after a confrontation with the U.S. Marshals and law enforcement in Natalia, Texas.
Police stressed this is an ongoing investigation and they are still working to determine what led to the shooting.
“In many cases like this, we may never know the truth or the motives behind the senseless killings,” said Will County Sheriff Deputy Chief Dan Jungles.
Natalia is small town of about 1,200 people just outside of San Antonio.
Will County sheriff’s deputies had been keeping an eye on Nance’s house overnight because his car was allegedly spotted at each of the shooting scenes on Sunday. When he never came home, deputies grew suspicious and started knocking on the door.
After approaching the home just before noon, authorities discovered blood and went inside. That is when they found the victims.
Authorities say a motive is currently unclear and officers were unable to provide additional details citing the ongoing investigation.
Will County deputies were called around 4:30 p.m. Sunday to an apartment complex off Pheasant Run Road where they found a man bleeding from the head from an apparent gunshot wound. He later died.
The victim was later identified as Toyosi Bakare, 28, who was originally from Nigeria and had been living in the U.S. for about three years.
According to deputies, about 10 minutes before the fatal shooting, a 42-year-old man was shot in the leg in the 200 Block of Davis Street and sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
“Our hearts go out to the victim’s families of this heinous crime. We will do everything in our power, here at the Joliet Police Department, to bring the person responsible for this to justice,” Joliet Police Department Chief Bill Evans said. “I have been a policeman 29 years. This is probably the worst crime scene I’ve ever been associated with.”
When asked if FBI special agents are assisting with the investigations, a spokesperson said while they do assist local partners with investigations, per Department of Justice policy, they are unable to confirm or deny any involvement at this time. During Monday’s press conference, however, Joliet police said the FBI was assisting.
Residents in the area are shaken up and heartbroken as they search for answers on Monday night.
“The whole neighborhood is just reeling and praying for families obviously that lost someone,” Laura Bane, a resident in the area said.
Bane said she walked to the scene after tireless attempts to reach family members who come to the block often.
“We just walked over here, just trying to see if we could see any of the vehicles that are over here,” Bane said.
She is one of several people holding their breath, hoping the victims aren’t people they know.
“It’s just shocking. I’m concerned, like ‘Do I know anybody?’,” Carr said.
According to the Patch and court records, Nance was charged about a year ago after he tried to shoot a woman multiple times on Ingalls Avenue and at a home in the 1300 block of Brentwood Place. Police found him near his home in the 220 block of West Acres Road and arrested him after a brief struggle with officers.
He was charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, aggravated assault, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and reckless discharge of a firearm.
Nance was charged as part of Operation New Year’s Resolution.
According to court documents, he was released after posting $10,000 of a $100,000 bond.
Nance’s attorney sought a further reduction of bond that Will County prosecutors opposed and a judge denied the change, according to a spokesperson for the state’s attorney. Nance showed up for subsequent court hearings, the state’s attorney said.
NewsNation’s affiliate WGN contributed to this report.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.