Craven County man wanted for homicide, arson accused of assaulting deputy, prompting NC Blue Alert: Officials

VANCEBORO, N.C. (WNCN) — “Dangerous homicide suspect attacks deputy sheriff.”

That is how the Craven County Sheriff’s Office titled their social media post, urging the public to cautiously be on the lookout for arson and homicide suspect Dominic Liam Connelly — who also assaulted a deputy with a knife Wednesday night.

A Blue Alert was issued by the state just before 1 a.m. Thursday after the assault took place, which deputies said was near the Bojangles in Vanceboro on N.C. Highway 43 and Dawson Lane.

While searching for Connelly, deputies said they received a lead of a possible sighting of the suspect. “Connelly was in the bathroom of the business and used a knife to assault a Deputy Sheriff before fleeing the scene on foot,” deputies said in their social media post.

“Connelly was last seen wearing all dark clothing running towards Bailey Lane Apartments located behind Bojangles,” deputies said.

Connelly has active warrants for attempted first degree murder, felony assault on law enforcement causing serious injury and resisting a public officer in this incident.

Connelly is also wanted for murder, first degree arson and larceny of a motor vehicle. This stems from an investigation earlier this week on October 25 where deputies responded to a structure fire and death investigation nearly forty miles away on 2010 N.C. Highway 101 in Havelock.

72-year-old Patricia Lopedote, Dominic’s grandmother, was found dead in the home and her vehicle was missing, prompting a warrant filed by deputies for the stolen vehicle against Dominic. “On October 28, 2025, Lopedote’s vehicle was located in a parking lot on Pine Tree Drive near the baseball fields in New Bern, N.C. unoccupied,” deputies said.

After an autopsy and consultation with the District Attorney’s Office, deputies said it was determined that Lopedote was murdered and Connelly was the suspect.

The Craven County Sheriff’s Office is asking that anyone with information on the whereabouts of Dominic Connelly contact them and avoid approaching him.

“Anyone assisting Connelly in his unlawful flight to avoid arrest and prosecution will face criminal charges,” deputies said.

If you have any information on this case, please contact the Craven County Sheriff’s Office at (252) 636-6620 or Craven County Communications at (252) 633-2357. You can also submit tips anonymously through the Craven County Crime Stoppers app at p3tips.com/986. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of Dominic Connelly.