Tuesday night, the man who allegedly killed 8 people from both Illinois and Missouri was arrested by Illinois state police. According to the Chicago Tribune, authorities said that Nicholas Troy Sheley, 28, was captured in Granite City, Ill. He went outside a bar to smoke and police made their move, arresting him.

The FBI said that Sheley killed 8 people by “blunt force trauma” to the head, using an ax in some of the homicides. That made authorities think the crimes were related. Apparently this whole situation began on June 14 when Sheley broke into an elderly woman’s home and made her write him checks. Police issued an arrest warrant and started searching for him. They had no luck in finding him.

The first victim 93-year-old Russell Reed of Sterling was found dead in the trunk of his car around June 23. On Sunday, a couple from Arkansas disappeared and their bodies were found the next day behind a gas station. The victims were Thomas and Jill Estes. By Monday noon, the body of Ronald Randall, 65, was found behind a grocery store in Galesburg, Ill.

The next day, authorities from Rock Falls found the bodies of Brock Branson, 29, and Kenneth Ulve, 25, in an apartment, along with the bodies of a woman and a child.

Sgt. Tom Burek of the Illinois State Police said that it was possible that one of the Rock Falls victims “was an acquaintance of Sheley,” reported the New York Times. Burek also said that, so far, Sheley was charged with one count of first degree murder. Authorities have also charged Josh Sheley, Henson and Sheley's cousin, Eric A. Smith, 28, with obstructing justice.

Apparently, they helped Nicholas Sheley to get rid of some evidence.

Sheley was in a bar before he got arrested. Some of the clients recognized him, as his mug shot was released on television. Gary Range went outside and called the police and, when Sheley was sent outside to smoke, police came and arrested the suspect.

Sheley had previous trouble with the law. He was convicted in 1999 for possession of a firearm and marijuana and in 2000 was convicted of aggravated robbery.