I-80 rest stop stabbing victim was musician, beloved grandfather

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - A daughter of the man killed Wednesday in an assault at a I-80 rest stop near Grand Island said he was an “incredible father and grandpa.”

Gary Weaver, 72, died of knife wounds after he was attacked Wednesday morning inside his RV camper parked at the west-bound rest area just east of Grand Island. His wife, Mary, was also stabbed and is listed in stable condition at Grand Island Regional Medical Center.

His daughter Victoria Eudy told St. Louis TV station KSDK that the two had been together for 46 years. They have two children, Victoria and a son, and have one grandchild.

In a statement Eudy said, “The only thing that could help is it’s hard seeing reporting that doesn’t include what an incredible person and father my dad was. He was a well-known musician in the 70s, playing with The Walter Scott Band, and a longtime pianist for Third Baptist church, for example, not to mention what an incredible father and grandpa he was.”

An Ohio man faces 11 felony charges including murder and attempted murder in Weaver’s death near Grand Island.

Court records show 22-year-old James Thompson, Jr., of Elyria, Ohio, is charged with murder, attempted murder, assault, operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, two counts of attempted robbery and five counts of use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony.

Hall County deputies were called to a rest stop on westbound Interstate 80 just east of the South Locust Street exit just after 7 a.m. According to court documents, deputies saw Mary sitting on the ground outside an RV camper with blood coming from the right side of her head. They also found Gary Weaver, inside the RV bleeding from his chest and head.

Both were sent to Grand Island Regional Medical Center by ambulance. Gary Weaver was pronounced dead at the hospital. At last check, Mary Weaver was listed in stable condition.

The affidavit refers to a witness who heard Thompson say “give me the Jeep keys” referring to a Jeep which was towed behind the Weaver’s RV. The witness also saw Thompson go into the RV and then later assault Mary outside the RV.

The affidavit also describes video of the incident from the dashcam of a nearby semi trailer. The video shows the suspect going inside the RV and making a stabbing motion and then goes out of view. Later the suspect was shown outside the RV stabbing Mary in the side of her head.

The affidavit reports that Thompson fled the scene in a white Ford Focus heading westbound on the interstate. A state trooper reportedly saw Thompson drive the car off the interstate at the Wood River exit without stopping or signaling. The trooper saw the car head north from the exit, turn around and then head south. The car was clocked at 120 miles an hour going over the interstate overpass at the Wood River exit. The affidavit then indicated that Thompson drove the car into the nearby Platte River and ran away. He was arrested a short distance away.

In Hall County Court Thursday morning, Judge Art Wetzel ordered Thompson be held without bond. A probable cause hearing for Thompson is scheduled July 9.

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