| January
24, 2006 |
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| UPDATE: Connelly Stable After Surgery |
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| The man shot by a Burke County deputy this
morning during a domestic disturbance call had surgery this morning and is
listed as stable, Sheriff John T. McDevitt said. |
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The N.C. State
Bureau of Investigation also has released the names of the officers involved in
the shooting, which occurred shortly after 2:30 AM.
Gaither Antonio
Connelly (right), 47, of 2650 Farmland Acres,
Morganton was shot twice after reportedly pointing a handgun toward Deputy
Dylan Anderson and Officer Derrick Gates of the Drexel Police Department. |
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| According to McDevitt, the officers arrived at
the Connelly residence to find Connelly's wife and daughter outside of the
residence. It appeared the woman had been assaulted and was bleeding,
McDevitt said. |
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| After entering the home, the officers confronted
an irate Connelly in the basement, the Sheriff stated. As the officers
attempted to arrest the man for a domestic violence assault, he allegedly
became more combative and the deputy sprayed him with pepper spray. |
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| Connelly produced a handgun, McDevitt said, and
Anderson shot Connelly in the abdominal area and hip. Both Anderson and
Gates were unhurt during the confrontation. |
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| Connelly reportedly retreated into another area
of the basement and spoke with a Sheriff's Office dispatcher by telephone,
stating he had been shot in the stomach and leg and would turn himself
in. |
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| Another deputy, Lt. Wally Oaks entered the home
shortly afterwards and located Connelly. Oaks secured the scene for emergency
medical personnel to enter. |
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| Connelly was transported by Burke County EMS to
Grace Hospital, and transferred to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte for
treatment of his wounds. |
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| McDevitt, who was on the scene, said that
Connelly's handgun was found during a search of the residence by investigators.
The Sheriff stated Connelly apparently attempted to hide the bloody weapon
after being shot. |
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| Connelly is employed as a sergeant with the
North Carolina Department of Corrections and stationed at the Caldwell County
unit, according to reports. |
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| The deputy will be placed on administrative duty
until the completion of the investigation by the SBI, said McDevitt. |
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