Temple of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said Richard Charles Demello, a convicted felon with a long rap sheet for breaking and entering, is wanted for the murder of Michael Wayne Davis, 47, at 85 Mobley Street, which is off West Tenth Street across from Browning’s Grill.

Temple declined to discuss how Davis was murdered and a motive.

Demello, 54, has ties to Harnett County, Rhode Island and Missouri. He stole the victim’s car, a blue 1998 Dodge Neon possibly with a spolier, and could possibly be headed north, south or west, Temple said. “Every agency has been contacted.”

The license plate is YWZ-2442.

Demello is short with a thin build and has tattoos.

The sheriff’s office responded to a call between 7:30 and 8 this morning.

Investigators roped off the white house with green shutters with yellow crime scene tape and stopped passing motorists to question them.

Anyone with information on Demello’s location is encouraged to contact the Halifax County sheriff's Office at 252-583-8201 or Halifax County Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.