The Hall County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release on Wednesday, June 19, stating that an elderly man was slain and his wife is in critical condition as a result of an attempted robbery at a Nebraska highway rest stop.
On Wednesday at approximately 7 a.m., the suspect, James Thompson Jr., 22, allegedly stabbed Gary, 72, and Mary Weaver, 71, at an Interstate 80 rest area. According to a witness statement in the affidavit obtained by KSNB, Thompson allegedly requested that the couple “provide me with the Jeep keys.” The witness also claims that Thompson assaulted Mary outside the RV after entering it.
Furthermore, the affidavit indicates that a dashcam video from a semi-trailer in the vicinity captured the suspect entering the RV and performing a stabbing motion. The suspect subsequently exited the vehicle and was observed stabbing Mary in the side of her head, as per the affidavit.
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Deputies from the Hall County Sheriff’s Office discovered the couple hemorrhaging after they both sustained knife wounds.
As a result, they were transported to Grand Island Hospital by ambulance. Upon his arrival, Gary was declared deceased. On Wednesday, authorities reported that Mary continues to be in critical condition due to life-threatening injuries. Gary’s autopsy has been scheduled.
In their mobile home, the couple traversed Nebraska. They are originally from Eureka, Missouri. According to the press release, the “lone suspect” fled the site by vehicle before the arrival of authorities. Nevertheless, officers were able to obtain a description of the perpetrator, as indicated by an affidavit, as reported by KSNB.
The Nebraska State Patrol pursued the suspect before he plunged his vehicle into the Platte River. Thompson was apprehended 30 minutes later after the state troopers employed a police dog to locate him, according to the Associated Press.
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Thompson was apprehended at the Hall County jail upon his discovery. He is currently facing a variety of offenses, such as felony murder, attempted murder, first-degree assault, robbery, two counts of use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, attempted theft by unlawful taking, fleeing in a vehicle to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, stop sign violation, and failure to signal.
Thompson was ordered to be detained without bond by Judge Art Wetzel on Thursday, June 20. He is scheduled to appear at a probable cause hearing on July 9. An investigation is currently in progress. On Thursday, PEOPLE’s inquiry regarding additional information was not promptly addressed by a Hall County Sheriff’s Office representative.