A man brandishing a knife attacked a 72-year-old man and his 71-year-old wife during an attempted robbery at a Nebraska rest stop, leaving the former critically injured.
According to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Gary and Mary Weaver of Eureka, Missouri, who were traveling across the state in their mobile home, stopped at the rest area along Interstate 80 around seven in the morning on Wednesday.
The pair had many knife wounds when deputies arrived at the site of the stabbing.
An autopsy has been requested for Gary Weaver, who passed away at Grand Island Regional Hospital from his wounds. His wife is still in serious condition after suffering injuries that could have killed her.
The suspect had already left the location before the Nebraska State Patrol caught up with him, and he was eventually identified as James Thompson Jr., 22, of Elyria, Ohio.
Before the car left the road and entered the Platte River, state troopers attempted to halt a car that fit the suspect’s description and pursued it up to 120 mph.
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About half an hour later, the culprit was located using a police dog.
Following his booking, Thompson was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree murder attempt, and robbery at the Hall County Jail.
“Superb cooperation between Troopers and Hall County Deputies to swiftly identify and capture the culprit,” the Nebraska State Patrol stated in a social media post. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the two victims.”
The inquiry is still on.