Wilson Deputy Out of Hospital After Being Stabbed

Wilson, N.C. — A Wilson County deputy who was stabbed while on duty is out of the hospital and recovering at home, officials said Monday.

Authorities said James Edward Smith, 42, came out of surgery Saturday evening and left Wilson Medical Center on Sunday.

Investigators said Smith was responding to a domestic violence call Saturday at a house at 5200 White Oak Loop Road. When he entered the house, he was stabbed in the left side of his rib cage by 35-year-old Jimmy Allen Pennell, authorities said.

Smith's stab wound was 8 inches long and 1½ inches deep, authorities said.

The deputy has been with the Wilson County Sheriff's Office for 12 years, Maj. J.H. Farmer said.

Deputies arrested Pennell and charged him with first-degree attempted murder, malicious assault in secret, assault with a deadly weapon on a government official with the intent to kill, resisting a public officer and assault on a female in connection with the original domestic violence complaint to which Smith responded.

Pennell was being held Monday on a $3 million bond.

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Latest Comments

Officer Smith, there were/are innumerable citizens who hold you, and your commrades, in our prayers. Heal quickly.

MM Rebecca

MM Rebecca
July 10, 2007 3:38 p.m.

Glad to hear Deputy Smith is doing ok. I agree that it should have been called a slice or cut though. Stab is not the appropriate word here. God bless everyone that puts there life on the line to help the civilans of our world.

bhurrelbrink
July 9, 2007 8:58 p.m.

8 inches wide and 1.5 inches deep is a SLICE / CUT not a STAB!! OR else that was some awkward looking knife. But slice or cut does not sound as dramatic as STABBED!

talkabout
July 9, 2007 4:19 p.m.

Glad to hear Eddie is doing good. Also very glad the DA's in Wilson are go getters, especially when the vic is one our finest. The DA's here will go after this guy with everything.

methinks
July 9, 2007 3:45 p.m.

Glad to hear the officer's ok. Sorry to hear that Pennel made some bad decisions. What's even sadder is, how the media has left out information and created a bad guy image for Pennel.

Keep up your work LEO's; WRAL, you need more facts and less twist.

TwiztedMedia
July 9, 2007 3:28 p.m.