Man convicted in I-80 rest stop killing pleads guilty to weapons charge

A Nebraska man convicted of killing an Interstate 80 rest stop worker in October pleaded guilty Monday in Johnson County District Associate Court to a weapons charge.

Peter Riggs, 33, of Columbus, Neb., pleaded guilty to carrying weapons, an aggravated misdemeanor, and was sentenced to two years in prison. the prison term will run concurrently to his 50-year sentence for second degree murder.

Riggs pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in October before going to trial for first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Jeffrey McAdam, 46, of Victor, May 29, 2010. McAdam, a state maintenance employee, was working at the I-80 rest stop near Victor that day.

Riggs left the rest stop after the shooting but was apprehended in Johnson County after he told a deputy he was wanted.

Deputies recovered two 9 mm handguns, one police identified as the murder weapon, along with a stun gun, ammunition and a double bladed martial arts knife from his car, according to court records.

Riggs never offered any explanation as to why he shot McAdam.

While in jail pending his trial, Riggs had written letters to the court stating he wanted to plead guilty to the crime and also confessed to shooting McAdam. In one letter, Riggs said he shot McAdam because he hated him.

Riggs must serve 35 years of the 50-year term before being eligible for parole.