Deputy Stabbed During Search for Suspect in Murder Case

VANCEBORO, N.C. — Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes reported that one of his deputies was stabbed during a confrontation with a suspect on Wednesday night. The suspect, 24-year-old Dominic Connelly, is wanted for allegedly murdering his grandmother.

The incident occurred around 8:45 p.m. when the deputy confronted Connelly inside a fast-food restaurant at 380 Highway 43. During the struggle, the deputy was stabbed in the leg, and Connelly fled the scene.

Authorities have set up a command post in Vanceboro, deploying K-9 units and drones to assist in the search for Connelly. Multiple agencies are involved in the manhunt, as the sheriff’s office urges the public to remain vigilant.

This incident follows the death of 72-year-old Patricia Lopedote, who was found dead last Saturday at her home on Highway 101 in Havelock after authorities responded to a fire. According to deputies, Lopedote was Connelly’s grandmother.

On Monday, deputies discovered Lopedote’s missing vehicle in a parking lot on Pine Tree Drive in New Bern, near local baseball fields. Connelly faces charges of murder, first-degree arson, and larceny of a motor vehicle.

The sheriff’s office warns that anyone who assists Connelly will face criminal charges. If anyone has information regarding his whereabouts, they are encouraged to contact the Craven County Sheriff’s Office at (252) 636-6620 or Craven County Communications at (252) 633-2357.