An attempted robbery at a rest stop in Nebraska turned deadly when a 22-year-old man allegedly attacked an elderly couple with a knife, killing one and leaving the other critically injured.
Gary Weaver, 72, and his wife Mary Weaver, 71, from Eureka, Missouri, were travelling in their mobile home when they stopped at a rest area along Interstate 80 around 7 a.m. on Wednesday, according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies who responded to the scene found the couple suffering from multiple knife wounds. Gary Weaver succumbed to his injuries at Grand Island Regional Hospital, where an autopsy has been ordered. Mary Weaver remains in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
The suspect, identified as James Thompson Jr., 22, of Elyria, Ohio, fled the scene but was apprehended shortly afterwards by the Nebraska State Patrol. Troopers attempted to stop a vehicle matching the suspect’s description, leading to a high-speed chase that reached speeds of 120 mph. The pursuit ended when the vehicle exited the interstate and drove into the Platte River.
A police dog was used to locate Thompson approximately 30 minutes later. He was subsequently booked into the Hall County Jail on multiple charges, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and robbery.
“Excellent teamwork by Troopers and Hall County Deputies to quickly locate and apprehend the suspect,” the Nebraska State Patrol wrote in a social media post. “Our hearts are with the two victims and their families.”
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
