On January 21, 2024, a devastating mass shooting occurred in Joliet, Illinois, claiming the lives of eight individuals, including 47-year-old African American female Tameaka Nance. The perpetrator, 23-year-old Romeo Nance, was identified as Tameaka's son. The tragic event unfolded across two residences on West Acres Road, where authorities discovered the bodies of seven family members: Tameaka Nance; her daughters, Alexandria Nance Alonnah Nance and Angel Nance ; her son, Joshua Nance ;
and her siblings, Christine Esters and William Esters II. An eighth victim, 28-year-old Toyosi Bakare, was fatally shot outside an apartment complex in what police believe was a random act.
The sequence of events began with Romeo Nance allegedly shooting a man in the leg on Davis Street. Shortly thereafter, he reportedly killed Toyosi Bakare at the Pheasant Run Apartments. Following these incidents, authorities conducted surveillance on Nance's residence. Upon entering the homes, they discovered the seven family members deceased from gunshot wounds. The following day, U.S. Marshals located Nance near Natalia, Texas, approximately 1,200 miles from Joliet. As law enforcement approached, Nance reportedly took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
In the aftermath, two individuals were arrested in connection with the case. Kyleigh Cleveland-Singleton, identified as Nance's girlfriend and the mother of his child, was charged with felony obstruction of justice for allegedly providing false information to investigators. She was placed on home confinement with electronic monitoring. Additionally, 24-year-old Jon Hansen of Shorewood was arrested on May 31, 2024, and charged with three counts of murder, attempted first-degree murder, and aggravated battery with a firearm. Authorities allege that Hansen was present during some of the shootings and disposed of the weapon used in the crimes.
The motive behind the shootings remains unclear. Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans stated, "We can't get inside his head," indicating the absence of a clear rationale for Nance's actions. The community continues to grapple with the profound loss and seeks answers to this senseless tragedy.
