MAKANDA – A wanted fugitive is being sought following a standoff Sunday in rural Makanda.

According to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, at 10:13 a.m. deputies responded to a report of a domestic battery in progress at a home in the 2700 block of Robley Lane.

Upon arrival, deputies encountered a 64-year-old woman in her driveway who said that she had been choked and struck in the head by a 25-year-old man related to her. The sheriff’s office says the suspect is the woman’s son.

The woman said that the suspect, identified as Lucas M. Thompson, made threats during the incident and that the only way he would go to jail would be for murder. The woman was able to escape and fled the home later telling deputies that her son was still located in the home armed with a sword.

The sheriff’s office activated the Williamson County Crisis Team, issued an alert through the county EMA’s IPAWS system alerting residents within 5 miles or those who traveled within the distance of this public safety concern and mobilized a remote camera system which ultimately assisted in determining that the suspect was no longer in the home. The Williamson County Special Response Team made entry into the home and confirmed the suspect had fled from the scene prior to deputies arriving in contrast to the initial information provided by witnesses.

Williamson County deputies have had a history of calls for service at this home. Since March 2018, the sheriff’s office has responded 37 times to the home with a significant number of Domestic Battery calls.

Thompson is currently a fugitive wanted on a warrant out of Jackson County and additionally is wanted for questioning by the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office related to the Domestic Battery that happened Sunday. Additional charges are anticipated.

Anyone with information about this incident should call the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office at 618-997-6541 or Williamson County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-414-8477.