Greenville officer shot in the line of duty returns to work with warm welcome

GREENVILLE, Pitt County — A Greenville police officer who was shot earlier this month in the line of duty has returned to work on Wednesday, April 24.

Officer Jeremiah Lovelace was greeted this morning by his fellow co-workers with lots of cheering and clapping.

Officer Lovelace was shot while responding to a domestic dispute on Glendale Drive.

According to arrest warrants, Officer Lovelace was shot in the arm by an Akkar 12-gauge shotgun after knocking on the side of the door. This resulted in multiple projectiles being lodged in Lovelace's arm.

According to police, Jonas Fucito then barricaded himself inside of the apartment with a 9-month-old hostage. He was later taken into custody on April 3 around 2:00 in the morning following a 5.5-hour standoff with police.

In addition to the attempted murder charge, Facito faces the following charges:

• Assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill
• Two counts assault with a deadly weapon government official
• Assault with a deadly weapon emergency worker
• Assault LEO with firearm
• Discharge firearm enclosure
• Habitual misdemeanor assault
• Assault with a deadly weapon minor present
• Misdemeanor child abuse
• Communicating threats
• Injury to real property
• Resisting public officer
• Discharge firearm in city limit
• Possession of firearm by felon
• Assault on female
• Assault with deadly weapon
• 2nd degree kidnapping
• 3 additional counts of attempted murder

Fucito was previously convicted of two or more felony or misdemeanor assault offenses, according to warrants.

Fucito remains at the Pitt County Detention Center under a $1,000,000 bond.