victims of fatal rest stop after stabbing identified as husband and wife | KLIN

The man killed and a woman critically injured in a double stabbing at a rest stop near Grand Island just after 7 a.m. Wednesday morning have been identified by the Hall County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies were called to the westbound rest area on 4148 Interstate 80, milepost 316 ½, on a report of a disturbance. Gary Weaver, 72, and Mary Weaver, 71, a husband and wife from Missouri, were both transported to a local hospital with stab wounds. Mr. Weaver was pronounced dead at the hospital and Ms. Weaver remains in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.

The lone suspect, James Thompson Jr., 22, of Elyria, Ohio, left the scene and was pursued by the Nebraska State Patrol and ultimately apprehended. At that time, investigators believed this incident began as an attempted robbery in which the victims were attacked with a knife.

The Missouri couple was traveling through Nebraska in their mobile home when the incident occurred.

Thompson was booked into the Hall County Jail, charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, grand larceny, two counts of using a deadly weapon to commit a felony, attempted theft by unlawful taking of more than $5,000.00 and fleeing. in a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, stop sign violation and failure to signal.