Shortly after noon on Friday March 8, 2024, the Effingham City Police Department received a call to check the area truck stops for an individual wanted in Michigan for bank robbery. Authorities in Michigan said the man was driving a gray truck tractor and a white trailer.
A short time later an Effingham City Police officer observed the semi at the TA truck stop on West Evergreen Avenue in Effingham.
Numerous police, fire, emergency responders, crisis team negotiators, SWAT teams from Effingham City Police and the Illinois State Police arrived and attempted to negotiate with the individual for his safe exit from the semi. These negotiations occurred over the course of more than six hours.
At approximately 7:30 p.m., the negotiations ended and the individual was found in the sleeper area of the semi with an apparent gunshot to the head.
Coroner Kim Rhodes and Deputy Coroner Joel Deters were notified and responded to the scene. The individual was identified as Jamon S. Weaver, male, 33, from Decatur, Georgia.
Family was notified in Atlanta, Georgia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The family was devastated and indicated this incident was so out-of-character for Jamon Weaver.
An autopsy was conducted on Saturday, March 9, at the McLean County Coroner’s Office in Bloomington. Toxicology samples were taken to determine if the individual ingested anything that would have altered his decision-making. Toxicology results are expected in about 30 days.
The investigation continues by the Effingham County Coroner’s Office, Effingham Police Department, Illinois State Police and Michigan authorities.