Couple, 2 children and 3 dogs found shot to death in Romeoville home

Police are investigating the shootings of a 38-year-old man, a 32-year-old woman and two boys in Romeoville as homicides.

At 8:43 p.m. Sunday, officers were asked to conduct a well-being check on a residence in the 500 block of Concord Avenue, Romeoville Deputy Police Chief Chris Burne said during a news conference Monday.

"A member of the family did not show up for work at 6 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 17, and did not respond to phone calls throughout the day, resulting in family members becoming concerned," Burne said.

Statements from the village of Romeoville and Will County Coroner Laurie Summers identified the man as Alberto Rolon, 38, although Burne said at the news conference his name was Roberto.

The woman was identified by Summers as 32-year-old Zoraida Bartolomei.

Burne did not provide information at the news conference Monday morning on the relationship between Rolon and Bartolomei, but he said the two children were "related" to them. Summers' office has not said how old the boys were.

In a statement, Rachel Kinder, superintendent of Valley View School District 365-U, said the two boys were R.C. Hill Elementary School students who "tragically lost their lives in a senseless act of gun violence at their residence in Romeoville."

"We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and will do everything we can to support your child, your family and the safety of our school community," Kinder's statement said.

Three dogs also were found shot dead inside the home, Burne said.

Burne said a preliminary investigation "leads police to believe this happened between 9 p.m. on Saturday and 5 a.m. on Sunday morning."

"We don't believe that the offender is among the victims right now," Burne said.

Burne did not respond to further questions Monday about any arrests, suspects or motive behind the incident.

Attempts to contact the families of the victims were unsuccessful Monday.

None of the neighbors The Herald-News spoke to Monday said they heard or saw anything, including Carole Love, who lives next to the house.

"I don't think anybody in the whole block heard anything," Love said.

Love said her neighbors next door were "nice people but they always kept to themselves."

Lynn Phillips, who lives on Concord Avenue, said she didn't hear or see anything other than police squad vehicles Sunday night. She said she's lived in the area for 18 years and described it as a "quiet community" where people "stick to ourselves."

"This is way too close to home for me. It's a very sad situation. It's devastating this happened," Phillips said.

Phillips said she didn't know the family but she would see the children playing basketball.

"They kept to themselves - waved hi, bye, that kind of stuff," she said.

Alfredo Rosas, another resident of Concord Avenue, also said the neighborhood is quiet. He said he didn't hear or see anything either. He said he was home Sunday night when police vehicles arrived.

"It was alarming," Rosas said.

Anyone with information about the shootings should call the Romeoville Police Department at (815) 886-7219.