Police capture ESL man accused of shooting at trooper

A 52-year-old man accused of shooting at an Illinois State Police trooper on Tuesday in East St. Louis was captured Saturday evening in St. Ann, Mo.

Gregory K. Nelson of East St. Louis was taken into custody about 6 p.m. at an apartment in St. Ann. An investigation by State Police, U.S. marshals and St. Clair County prosecutors resulted in information on Nelson’s whereabouts.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Tom Woods said Nelson was taken into custody without incident. An acquaintance of Nelson resides at the apartment.

“We knocked on the door. A guy answered the door and Nelson could be seen behind him,” Woods said.

On Tuesday, the trooper pulled over Nelson near Interstate 255 and State Street in East St. Louis at about 11:30 p.m. on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. He asked Nelson to get out of the car. As he did so, police said he pulled out a gun and fired at the officer. The officer returned fire and Nelson ran away. The trooper, who was not named by police, was not injured.

Nelson has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm and unlawful use of weapons by a felon.

He was being held Saturday at the St. Louis County Detention Center in Clayton, Mo., pending extradition to Illinois.

Woods said no weapon was found at the apartment.

Illinois State Police Capt. Joe Kollins said Nelson pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired multiple shots at the trooper. The state trooper retreated, drew his firearm and returned fire, Kollins said.

Nelson then ran off. Surrounding police departments joined in a search for him, but Nelson managed to elude police until his capture Saturday.

Nelson has a prior criminal history. He was paroled in 2005 after serving time for a 2001 carjacking conviction. His last known address was on North 70th Street in East St. Louis.

This story was originally published June 27, 2015 at 3:10 PM with the headline "Police capture ESL man accused of shooting at trooper."