Prosecutor: Marissa woman arranged ride for fugitive who shot at state trooper

Police say a Marissa woman arranged a ride for an East St. Louis man who was on the run after shooting at an Illinois State Police trooper during a traffic stop in June.

St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly’s office issued the charge of aiding a fugitive against Mary A. Averbeck, 43, on Thursday. Charging documents allege that shortly after Gregory K. Nelson fired several shots toward the trooper during a traffic stop near Interstate 255 and State Street in East St. Louis June 23, Averbeck contacted Ronald A. Boyd and told him she would pay him if he retrieved Nelson, drove him to St. Louis County and let him stay at Boyd’s apartment in St. Ann, Mo.

After a four-day manhunt, police captured Nelson, 52, in Boyd’s apartment on June 27 when officers who knocked at Boyd’s door saw Nelson sitting in the living room. Boyd, 64, was charged in the case on July 8.

At 11:30 p.m. June 23, a state trooper pulled Nelson over on suspicion of driving under the influence. Nelson complied with the trooper’s instruction to get out of his car, but he also pulled out a handgun and fired several shots toward the trooper as he ran off. The trooper retreated before returning fire with his service weapon. Neither the trooper nor Nelson was hurt in the exchange.

Charging documents indicated Averbeck was not yet in custody Thursday.

This story was originally published September 10, 2015 at 7:55 PM with the headline "Prosecutor: Marissa woman arranged ride for fugitive who shot at state trooper."