Kimiki Truss, 43, was shot and killed at her home in the Liberty Meadows housing development in Joliet, Illinois, on May 27, 2019. The Will County Coroner’s Office reported she died of multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at Silver Cross Hospital around 5 a.m. on Memorial Day.

Joliet police were dispatched about 4:10 a.m. for a reported domestic battery. Officers forced entry after seeing smoke and flames and hearing a commotion. Inside, 44-year-old Nakia Smith was found holding Truss hostage and fired at officers; they returned fire. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators said Smith and Truss had been in a long-term relationship that had ended and that Truss had a new boyfriend; ballistics testing was pending to clarify the exchanges of gunfire.

Anyone who saw activity around Liberty Meadows late on May 26 into the early hours of May 27, 2019, or who knew the couple, is asked to come forward with information.