Vincent Lamont Blakely, a 35-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on April 18, 2017, in Wilmington, North Carolina. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. on Gores Row, between Dock and Orange streets. Despite the presence of numerous witnesses at the time of the shooting, law enforcement initially faced challenges in obtaining cooperation from those who were present.
Anthony Darelle Stokes, a 35-year-old male, was later identified as the suspect in the murder of Vincent Lamont Blakely. Stokes was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Thomasville, North Carolina, on October 3, 2017. He was charged with second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon. Stokes has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for drug possession, assault, burglary, and trespassing dating back to 1996.
The investigation revealed that the shooting was the result of a dispute involving a third man. Initially, law enforcement had difficulty locating witnesses until they discovered that seven people on GPS monitoring for probation were in the area at the time of the shooting. This breakthrough allowed investigators to identify Stokes as the shooter. After his arrest, Stokes admitted to being present at the scene of the shooting.
Stokes made his first appearance in New Hanover County District Court on October 5, 2017. During the hearing, Assistant District Attorney Doug Carriker recounted Stokes' extensive criminal history, which placed him at the highest level for sentencing. As a result, Judge Chad Hogston set Stokes' bail at $2 million, surpassing the state's request for a $900,000 bond. Stokes was appointed a public defender to represent him in the case.
The tragic death of Vincent Lamont Blakely left a significant impact on the Wilmington community, highlighting the ongoing challenges of gun violence and the importance of cooperation between law enforcement and the public in solving such cases.
