Police chief ‘tremendously frustrated’ that Quincy man wanted for first-degree murder is not in custody

QUINCY — Adam Yates, chief of the Quincy Police Department, says his staff is discouraged that a Quincy man wanted for first-degree murder has not yet been found.

The Quincy Police Department continues to investigate the whereabouts of Victor A. Weems III, 19, who is wanted for first-degree murder related to the shooting death of Dana Lawton-Marshall, 47, in the 1100 block of Jefferson in Quincy on May 24.

“We’re tremendously frustrated with the fact it’s taken so long,” Yates said Friday morning.

Shots were fired during an incident in the parking lot of LaGondola Spaghetti House on 12^th and Jefferson. Lawton-Marshall was shot while sitting on a porch of a home on the south side of Jefferson. She was taken to Blessing Hospital and later transferred to St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, where she died.

Yates said the Quincy Police Department’s patrol division, along with deputies from the Adams County Sheriff’s Department, responded to the shooting. The QPD Investigations Unit was called in and took over the investigation, gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses. 

Yates said information gathered seems to indicate that Lawton was not specifically targeted but instead was an “innocent bystander” who was struck by gunfire that originated from LaGondola.

The Quincy Police Department believes Weems has fled Quincy, and officers are working with the United States Marshals Service to find and apprehend Weems, who should be considered armed and dangerous. 

“Once the U.S. Marshals take the investigation, we do no further attempts to locate a subject,” Yates said. “Any information given to us is sent to the Marshal Service. That’s done to avoid any conflicts between the two agencies. Once we partner with the Marshal Service, I don’t want to say our hands are tied, but we’re expected to step back and let the Marshal Service work the investigation.”

Weems is a black male, 5 foot 11 inches tall and 165 pounds. His last known address is in the 1500 block of Breckenridge in Quincy. He also is wanted for numerous other felony charges — including aggravated discharge of a firearm, home invasion, aggravated battery, endangering the welfare of a child, possession of a stolen vehicle and obstructing identification. 

Anyone with information of the whereabouts of Weems should contact their local law enforcement agency, the United States Marshals Service, the Quincy Police Department (217-222-9360 / quincypolicedepartment.com) or Quincy Regional Crimestoppers (217-228-4474 / quincycrimestoppers.com).