North Carolina

Hundreds gather for funeral of slain North Carolina trooper

RALEIGH, N.C. — Hundreds of friends, family and colleagues have gathered for the funeral of a North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper who was fatally shot during a traffic stop.

Services for Trooper Kevin Conner took place Sunday at South Columbus High School in Tabor City. An outdoor ceremony was held on the school campus in lieu of a public graveside memorial. A private service was scheduled for family and close friends following the funeral.

We first updated WSOCTV news app users with a notification just after 5:45 a.m. Wednesday that the trooper had been killed and the suspect was captured.

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Gary Hooks, whose son is a state trooper, said he wanted to show support.

"It's a job that you never know when you're going to get a call just like his wife did,” Hooks said.

An American Flag was hoisted above the hundreds of people who honored Conner’s life and service.

Trooper Kevin Conner

“This loss is going to be very devastating, not only to our organization, but to the community and especially his family,” Patrol First Sgt. Michael Baker said. “He was an awesome father, an awesome husband and an awesome friend, and that's the hardest part is.”

Past coverage

The patrol car Conner spent every shift in was parked outside draped in purple and black bunting, which is a sign of mourning.

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Conner, an 11-year veteran of the patrol, stopped a pickup truck last week on suspicion of speeding in rural Columbus County. Baker said the driver shot Conner as he approached.

Raheem Cole Dashanell Davis, a 20-year-old of Chadbourn, was later apprehended. He's charged with first-degree murder.

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