A Knox County (IL) Sheriff's deputy was killed Friday morning when he was struck by the suspect's vehicle while deploying a spike strip during a pursuit, police say.
Deputy Nicholas Weist was trying to stop a vehicle fleeing from Galesburg police.
The suspect's vehicle struck the deputy and then crashed in a field north of the intersection. Galesburg officers apprehended the suspect

Knox County (IL) Sheriff's Deputy Nicholas Weist was killed Friday when he was struck by a suspect's vehicle while trying to deploy a spike strip. (Photo: Knox County SO)
A Knox County (IL) Sheriff's deputy was killed Friday morning when he was struck by the suspect's vehicle while deploying a spike strip during a pursuit, police say.
Deputy Nicholas Weist was trying to stop a vehicle fleeing from Galesburg police.
The suspect's vehicle reportedly struck Weist and then crashed in a field north of the intersection. Galesburg officers apprehended the suspect, Daylon K. Richardson, after a brief foot pursuit, Galesburg,com reports.
The incident started when Galesburg police officers responded to a call about a suspect with a gun at a Circle K Gas Station at 8 a.m. Friday. Two officers found the suspect's vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle reportedly sped away. The chase continued out of Galesburg on U.S. Route 150 until it ended in the death of the deputy and the arrest of the suspect.
Henry County State’s Attorney Catherine Runty said Richardson has been charged with two counts of murder, one count of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding.
Deputy Weist was 34. He had served with the Knox County So for four years.

What were the top videos published by POLICE in 2025? Many covered tactics and officer safety, while others came from booth visits at IACP in Denver, Colorado. In case you missed these, here are the top 10 videos.
Read More →
A new integration partnership will enable Flock Safety hotlist alerts and license plate recognition (LPR) searches directly in Coreforce’s Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) and Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) platform.
Read More →
Ballistic Armor Co. secured a new commitment that will accelerate its multi-year transition from a third-party tactical equipment retailer to a premium innovator and U.S. manufacturer of advanced protective systems.
Read More →
The US Police & Fire Championships is now open to all employees – sworn, civilian, administrative, technical, and support staff – who work directly for an eligible public safety agency.
Read More →How can officers better “watch the hands”? Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association, shares some tips.
Read More →What steps can officers take to stay safer during felony or high-risk vehicle stops? Here are 10 tips from Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association.
Read More →
Amped FIVE empowers you to advance your investigations with confidence and precision, from the crime scene all the way to the courtroom.
Read More →
A Burbank Police Department K-9 was fatally shot over the weekend by a passenger who fled on foot from a traffic stop. The armed suspect was killed in a shootout with officers.
Read More →In this video, learn about how InVeris provides training to law enforcement, including customized augmented reality scenarios. The augmented reality system can scan up to 10,000 square feet of real-life environments and create a curriculum based on those spaces.
Read More →Learn about Polaris Government & Defense in this video as POLICE visits their show booth to discover their side-by-sides and the advantages they provide for agencies.
Read More →