Officer Involved Shooting On Hickory Boulevard in the Sawmills Community

LENOIR, NC (June 13, 2022) – On Sunday, June 12th, 2022, at 2:23 pm the Caldwell County Communications Center received multiple calls of an overturned black Honda 4 door in the ditch on the southbound lane of Hickory Boulevard in the Sawmills Community. The callers indicated that a subject with the vehicle was in possession of an assault rifle and a pistol. A caller further indicated that the subject was waving a rifle around and making statement about needing a ride. Another caller reported that the subject had a gun and made the statements if the police come someone is going to die. A Deputy with the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office and a Trooper with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol responded to the scene and on arrival contacted the subject. The Deputy and Trooper exchanged gunfire with the subject who fled to a wooded area after the exchange of gunfire. Additional officers arrived at the scene and located the subject at the wooded area and rendered aid to him. The subject was transported by Emergency Medical Services to Frye Hospital in Hickory. Multiple firearms were located in the possession of the subject at the time he was located. This case has been turned over to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and body cam footage from the Deputy has been turned over to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Agents on scene later conducted a search of the overturned vehicle and a significant quantity of suspected illegal narcotics was collected. The subject identified as Jerome Lavon Connelly, age 35, of Morganton was later pronounced deceased at Frye Hospital. The Deputy involved has been placed on paid administrative leave pending review by the District Attorney’s Office.

Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

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SHP Member Involved in Shooting During Collision Investigation

RALEIGH, NC (June 13, 2022) – On Sunday, June 12, at approximately 2:23 p.m., the State Highway Patrol was notified of a traffic collision involving an overturned vehicle on US 321 near Mission Road in Hudson (Caldwell County). It was reported that an individual was in the area of the collision scene armed with a firearm.

A deputy with the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office arrived on the scene, and a trooper arrived shortly after. The suspect fired shots at the officers, and they both returned fire. The suspect subsequently fled into a wooded area and was later located suffering from a believed gunshot wound. Authorities began life-saving procedures until emergency personnel arrived. Emergency personnel transported the suspect to an area hospital, but he was pronounced deceased at a later time. The involved trooper and deputy were not injured.

Authorities have identified Jerome Lavon Connelly, 35, of Morganton, as the deceased in the shooting. Trooper Bryson G. Bowman is identified as the involved member and is a 3-year veteran stationed in Troop F, District 3 (Caldwell County). Bowman will be placed on administrative duty pending an internal investigation which is agency protocol in any trooper-involved shooting.

North Carolina Department of Public Safety Press Release

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