Man charged with hate crime in Springfield for incident at convenience store

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Charges have been filed against a man in Springfield for pulling out a knife in front of a convenience store employee.

Everett D. Simpson, 44, was arrested on May 27. Paperwork from the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office states that Simpson was loitering at Okam's Quick and Easy, a convenience store in Springfield. A store employee asked him to leave but Everett reportedly pulled out a pocket knife and told the employee "go back to your country."

Everett admitted to pulling the knife on the employee but said that the employee was going to throw a bottle of juice at him. Law enforcement reviewed security footage which did not show the employee with a bottle.

The Sangamon County State's Attorney's Office filed hate crime and aggravated assault charges against Simpson on May 31. As of March 2025, Simpson entered a plea of guilty on a possession of a knife. His hate crime and and aggravated assault charges were dropped.