A manhunt is underway in the Chicago suburbs after a man allegedly killed eight people at three different locations since Sunday, according to local authorities. The suspect, who is known to the victims, is still at large, prompting a joint search operation by local police and the FBI’s fugitive task force.
The victims were discovered on Sunday and Monday, with one individual found in a residence in Will County and seven others in two separate homes in the city of Joliet. The authorities issued a warning on social media, describing the suspect as “armed and dangerous.”
In addition to the eight fatalities, another shooting incident in Joliet that left a man injured on Sunday is believed to be linked to the series of violent acts. However, the authorities have not disclosed any evidence supporting this connection.
Joliet Police Chief William Evans, a veteran officer with 29 years of service, described the crime scene as the worst he has ever encountered. He revealed during a press conference that the victims found on Monday were all related.
Will County Chief Deputy Dan Jungles, who was also present at the press conference, shared that deputies had been surveilling one of the houses since Sunday evening, anticipating the return of the suspect. When no one appeared, they decided to approach the house, but received no response. They then proceeded to the second house, where they discovered the first bodies.
The authorities have yet to determine how long the victims had been deceased, with autopsies still pending. When asked if the victims were related to the suspect, Jungles refrained from commenting, only confirming that the suspect was acquainted with them.
The violent incidents have left local residents in fear. Teresa Smart, who lives a block away from where seven of the victims were found, expressed her anxiety, stating that the proximity of the crime scene to her home was unsettling.
Earlier on Monday, Joliet Police posted on Facebook that they were investigating multiple deaths and shared a photo of the suspect and a red Toyota Camry, which was identified as the vehicle of interest. The same car had been spotted at two separate shooting scenes on Sunday, as per the Will County Sheriff’s Office.