Effingham Police name Georgia man killed in truck stop standoff

Bradley Zimmerman
·2 min read
2

EFFINGHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — The Effingham Police Department and Effingham County Coroner have released new information regarding a standoff on Friday at TA Truck Stop, including the name of the suspect who took his own life.

Police officials identified the man as Jamon S. Weaver, 33, of Georgia. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Kim Rhodes.

The series of events that ended in Effingham started in Shelby Township, Michigan, the previous day. Officials believe Weaver robbed a bank there and made his getaway in a semi-truck that was tracked to Effingham. The truck was found at TA Truck Stop with Weaver inside.

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“Responding officers and agencies quickly located the suspect’s vehicle from the time of the initial call. Officers safely isolated the suspect and removed any threat of danger to the nearby public,” said Effingham Police Chief Jason McFarland. “Responding personnel’s training, patience, and professionalism was steadfast in the safety of both the officers and motoring public while attempting to resolve this incident.”

Weaver is said to have resisted arrest and barricaded himself inside his truck for the next eight hours. Negotiations with him failed to convinve him to exit the truck.

The situation ended when Effingham Police found Weaver unresponsive inside his truck at 7:30 p.m. He had an apparent gunshot wound to the head.

Rhodes said an autopsy was performed on Sunday at the McLean County Coroner’s Office in Bloomington. Toxicology samples were taken to determine if Weaver had anything in his system that would have altered his decision-making. Results are expected in about 30 days.

McFarland praised the officers who found Weaver’s truck and extended his gratitude to all of the agencies that assisted, including the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, Effingham Fire Department and the Shelby Township Police Department in Michigan.

The investigation into the bank robbery, standoff and Weaver’s death is ongoing. Rhodes added that his family in Atlanta, Georgia, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have indicated that this incident is out of character for Weaver.

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