A 72-year-old Missouri man was stabbed to death and his wife was critically injured during an attempted robbery at a rest stop on Interstate 80 in Nebraska, police said.
Suspect James Thompson Jr., 22, of Elyria, Ohio, is currently in custody facing numerous charges, including first-degree murder, following the incident that occurred in Doniphan on Wednesday morning.
According to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a call of a disturbance at 4148 I-80 around 7 a.m. and found two victims “suffering from an assault with a knife and sustaining injuries.”
“One of the victims, a 72-year-old man from Eureka, Missouri, sustained fatal injuries as a result of the assault and was pronounced deceased at Grand Island Regional Hospital,” police added, identifying the victim as Gary Weaver.
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The suspect, James Thompson Jr., was taken into custody after a police foot pursuit. (Hall County Department of Corrections)
His wife, Mary Weaver, 71, reportedly suffered “severe, life-threatening injuries” and remained in critical condition at the same hospital as of Wednesday night.
“At this time, it is believed this began as an attempted robbery,” the Hall County Sheriff’s Office said, noting that “the couple was traveling in Nebraska in their mobile home at the time of the incident.”
The suspect fled the rest stop in a vehicle before police arrived, but Grand Island Police Lt. Dean Elliott told television station KSNB that officers were able to get a description of the suspect.
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The double stabbing incident happened around 7 a.m. Wednesday at a rest stop in Doniphan, Nebraska, according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. (Google Maps)
According to the Associated Press, Nebraska State Police attempted to stop a vehicle matching the description near Wood River and pursued the vehicle at speeds of up to 120 mph until it exited the interstate and turned south.
The car eventually crashed into the Platte River, Elliott said. State police used a police dog to find Thompson and arrested him about 30 minutes later.
The Hall County Sheriff’s Office says investigators believe the stabbing happened during an attempted robbery of a Missouri couple. (Hall County Sheriff’s Department)
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According to jail records, Thompson faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, robbery, use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony and willful reckless driving.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
