NC Blue Alert: Wanted man accused of stabbing deputy at Bojangles, killing grandmother

CRAVEN COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Authorities are searching for a man accused of killing his grandmother and stabbing a deputy, according to the Craven County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons.

On Wednesday night, deputies went to the Bojangles in Vanceboro after reports that 24-year-old Dominic Liam Connelly had been spotted. Connelly is accused of ‘brutally’ killing his grandmother and going on the run.

Officials say Connelly was in the Bojangles bathroom and stabbed one of the responding deputies. He was last seen wearing dark clothing and running on foot toward the Baily Lane apartment behind the restaurant.

Connelly is described as a white man standing 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighing about 135 pounds.

Anyone who sees Connelly should immediately call 911 and not approach him.

The deputy was reportedly stabbed in the leg. Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes told sister station WNCT that the deputy is okay and has been released from the hospital.

Following the stabbing, a Blue Alert was issued to request the public’s help in finding Connelly. Blue Alerts are typically issued after violent attacks on law enforcement.

The search for Connelly originally began after 72-year-old Patricia Lopedote was found dead inside a home on Saturday, Oct. 25.

First responders were called to the home on NC 101 Highway in Havelock for a fire. Tragically, firefighters found Lopedote dead inside the home.

An investigation revealed her grandson, Dominic Connelly, as a suspect. Lopedote’s vehicle was also missing from the home and a warrant for larceny of a motor vehicle was issued for Connelly. The unoccupied vehicle was later found in a parking on on Pine Tree Drive near the baseball field in New Bern.

An autopsy has been completed, and the District Attorney’s Office is aware of the case. Authorities have not released a potential motive for the murder.

Upon his arrest, Connelly will face the following charges:

• Attempted first-degree murder
• Felony assault on law enforcement causing serious injury
• Resisting a public officer.
• An open count of murder
• First-degree arson
• Larceny of a motor vehicle

Anyone helping Connelly avoid arrest will face charges. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information leading to his arrest.

If you see Connelly, call 911 immediately. Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Craven County Sheriff’s Office at 252-636-6620 or Craven County Communications at 252-633-2357. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers app at p3tips.com/986.