GALESBURG, Ill. — A Knox County grand jury has indicted the man accused of killing Deputy Nicholas Weist on additional charges separate from the current case in Henry County.
A June 11 press release from Knox County State's Attorney Jeremy Karlin announced that a grand jury issued new charges against Daylon Richardson - the man accused of killing Knox County Deputy Nicholas Weist in a chase on April 29.
Richardson currently resides in the Henry County Jail after pleading not guilty to two counts of murder and other charges involved with the deputy's death.
The new charges pertain to a different aspect of the case; it alleges that Richardson fired a gunshot at a Galesburg Police officer during the chase on Route 150.
"We have evidence to present that supports that. Not just his testimony, and not just his camera from the squad car, but from other witnesses as well," said Karlin. "Even if he's convicted in Henry County, we're bringing these charges because we take a very strong position about protecting our police officers."
Richardson now faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, armed violence, and aggravated discharge of a firearm in Knox County.
"The armed violence [charge] has a minimum of 15 years in the Department of Corrections. All of them served at 100%," said Karlin.
The Knox County case against Richardson will begin after the conclusion of the Henry County murder trial.
Both counties' State's Attorneys have been coordinating their prosecutions with the help of the Illinois State Police and local police.