LUMBERTON — A Columbus County teenager already charged with the murder of a state trooper has been sent to Central Prison after he allegedly stabbed a fellow inmate Wednesday night at the Robeson County jail.
Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said Chauncy Askew has not yet been charged in the stabbing, but he expects that will happen soon. According to Wilkins, Askew fashioned a comb into a “shank” and used it to stab 18-year-old Ladryien Dashon Tatum. Tatum received five sutures at Southeastern Regional Medical Center and was returned to the jail.
Askew, who recently turned 19, was taken to the Raleigh prison. Wilkins said deputies were able to find and confiscate the weapon Askew used in the attack.
Wilkins said Askew had written multiple threats against police officers on his cell walls, and that the cell will not be used again until it is painted.
Askew, who was 18 at the time, is accused of the shooting death of Highway Patrol Trooper Kevin Conner during an early morning traffic stop along U.S. 701 in Columbus County in October. After the shooting, Conner, 38, was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died.
Columbus County District Attorney Jon David said previously Askew was driving a stolen GMC pickup truck that Conner stopped for speeding about 12:15 a.m. on Oct. 17. The truck’s driver pulled over onto the shoulder and Conner, who did not know the vehicle had been stolen, approached the vehicle. The driver of the pickup then fired several shots, striking the trooper.
The murder was caught on Conner’s video camera.
David has said he would seek the death penalty against Askew.
Raheem Davis, who was 20 at the time, of Chadbourn, was arrested Oct. 23 and is charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.
Conner, an 11-year veteran of the Highway Patrol assigned to Troop B, District 5 in Columbus County, was born and raised in Bladenboro. He worked for about a year as a Lumberton police officer. He also spent some time in Robeson County working as a Highway Patrol trooper.
He is survived by a wife and two young children.
Thousands of people from across North Carolina attended funeral services for him on Oct. 21 that were held at South Columbus High School in Tabor City.
There is legislation in the General Assembly that is sponsored by Rep. Brenden Jones, whose District 46 includes part of Robeson County, and Sen. Danny Britt, that toughens penalties for assaults on law enforcement officers, and first responders, including firefighters and EMS personnel; and correctional officers and staff. It is named for Conner.
