Galesburg Reporter

A joint resolution that would designate a portion of U.S. Route 150 to honor fallen Knox County Sheriff's Deputy Nicholas Weist's life has advanced in the state Senate.

State Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Andalusia) announced Senate Joint Resolution 4 had advanced in a May 19 news release.

“It’s highly fitting in this body that we honor and respect those truly great individuals who have served our state and, in doing so, made the ultimate sacrifice," Anderson said in the release. “Deputy Weist is the epitome of a true public servant and died a hero. Through this resolution, we honor Deputy Weist for his unrelenting dedication, kindness and selflessness to the citizens of Knox County and the state of Illinois.”

Weist was killed in the line of duty on April 20, 2022. According to his obituary, he had worked at the Knox County Sheriff's Department since 2018. Prior to graduating from the Illinois Police Training Institute in 2015, Weist worked for the Mercer County Sheriff's Department as a 911 dispatcher before becoming a correctional officer. 

Weist was assisting the Galesburg Police Department by laying spike strips on U.S. Route 150 in an effort to stop a suspect on the run when he was hit by the fleeing vehicle, KWQC reported. 

The joint resolution designated a section of that very road from Main Street in Galesburg to the intersection of Illinois Route 17 in Alpha as the "Deputy Sheriff Nick Weist Memorial Highway."

According to an article published on WGIL, Daylon K. Richardson, the man charged in connection to Weist's death, could soon have a trial date. Richardson was charged with murder, aggravated fleeing, improper traffic lane usage, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, following the chase that ultimately lead to Weist's death. Police said the stop sticks Weist put down disabled Richardson's vehicle and he was arrested a short time after.