On January 21, 2024, a tragic mass shooting occurred in Joliet, Illinois, claiming the life of 20-year-old African-American female, Alexandria Nance, along with six of her family members. The perpetrator, 23-year-old Romeo Nance, was Alexandria's brother. He fatally shot his mother, Tameaka Nance his sisters Alonnah and Angel his brother Joshua his aunt Christine Esters and his uncle William Esters II in two separate homes on West Acres Road.
After the familial shootings, Romeo Nance continued his violent spree by shooting two unrelated individuals. He wounded a 42-year-old man on Davis Street and fatally shot 28-year-old Toyosi Bakare at the Pheasant Run Apartments. Authorities believe these latter shootings were random acts of violence.
Following the attacks, Romeo Nance fled Illinois. He was located the next day near Natalia, Texas, where he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a confrontation with law enforcement. Investigators have not determined a clear motive for the shootings.
In connection with the case, 21-year-old Kyleigh Cleveland-Singleton, identified as Romeo Nance's girlfriend and the mother of his child, was charged with obstruction of justice. Authorities allege that she provided false information during the investigation to hinder Nance's apprehension. She was placed on home confinement with electronic monitoring.
The Joliet community mourned the loss of the Nance and Esters family members. Funerals for the seven relatives were held at Victory City Church in Joliet, where family and friends gathered to pay their respects and remember the lives lost in this senseless tragedy.
