On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at 4:22 p.m. Bladen County Communications received a call about a shooting on Page Lake Road in northern Bladen County. According to Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, upon law enforcement’s arrival at the scene, a male was found to be shot multiple times.
The report states, “Officers secured the scene, and the victim was transported to a nearby hospital and taken into surgery.”
During the investigation, law enforcement determined the victim’s neighbor, Anotonio Candelaria, a 51-year-old, male, to be the suspect.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, investigators obtained search warrants for both residences, and an arrest warrant was issued for Anotonio Candelaria.
Law enforcement reported, “A nationwide all-points bulletin was issued for the suspect as he was believed to have been operating a white Nissan Rogue.”
Today, December 9, at approximately 8:52 a.m. a Bladen County Sheriff’s Sergeant was in the area of the Cape Fear River Lock and Dam #3 near Tar Heel in Bladen County. The Sergeant was surveying the area for the suspect in the case and located a white Nissan Rogue matching the description of the suspect vehicle.
The Bladen County Sergeant confirmed it was the suspect’s vehicle. While approaching the vehicle, the Sergeant heard a gunshot. According to the law enforcement’s report, the suspect in the shooting case, Anotonio Candelaria of Bladen County, had taken his own life.
According to the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, investigators arrived on the scene, and a second investigation has been initiated.
At the time of the Sheriff’s press release, the victim is in stable condition at a nearby hospital. The investigation is still ongoing.
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