A shocking shooting outside a North Carolina courthouse has left two attorneys injured after a woman allegedly opened fire following a civil court hearing. Authorities say the suspect, 57-year-old Gwendolyn White, was arrested shortly after the incident outside the Wake County courthouse in Raleigh.
The case has raised serious concerns about courthouse security and violence connected to legal disputes.
Woman Accused of Shooting Attorneys Outside Courthouse
According to reports, the shooting happened on Friday, May 22, outside the Wake County courthouse in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Police said Gwendolyn White allegedly shot two attorneys shortly after attending a hearing connected to a civil lawsuit involving the Rolesville Police Department.
Authorities arrested White at the scene and charged her with attempted first-degree murder.
Attorneys Represented Rolesville Police Department
Reports identified the injured attorneys as Mary Harris and Jeffery Whitley, who work for the law firm Fox Rothschild.
The attorneys were reportedly representing the Rolesville Police Department in a legal dispute involving White.
According to Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce, White allegedly became disruptive during the court proceedings earlier that day.
Police said she later left the courthouse, went to her vehicle, retrieved a firearm, and allegedly opened fire as the attorneys exited the building.
Victims Hospitalised After Shooting
Authorities confirmed both attorneys were injured during the shooting.
Reports stated that:
- Mary Harris was taken into surgery
- Jeffery Whitley was listed in stable condition
Officials have not yet released additional details about the extent of their injuries.
No other injuries were immediately reported.
Case Linked to Long-Running Civil Dispute
According to local reports, the hearing involved a civil case White filed against the Rolesville Police Department in 2022.
The lawsuit reportedly focused on White’s request for police body camera footage connected to an earlier incident involving neighbours in 2021.
Police responding to that earlier dispute reportedly determined that no crime had occurred.
White later requested body camera footage from the encounter and eventually filed legal action after delays in receiving the material.
A judge had previously dismissed the case, but the recent hearing was reportedly connected to efforts to reinstate it.
Police Continue Investigation
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.
White was reportedly taken into custody immediately after the shooting and was later transported to a hospital.
Officials have not publicly discussed a possible motive beyond the ongoing legal dispute.
The incident has sparked discussions online about courthouse safety, emotional courtroom confrontations, and security measures for attorneys and legal workers.
Courthouse Violence Raises Security Concerns
The shooting has once again highlighted concerns about violence connected to legal proceedings.
Many people expressed shock that a shooting could happen so close to a courthouse immediately following a hearing.
Legal professionals and courthouse employees often deal with emotionally charged situations, and incidents like this continue to raise questions about safety protocols at public buildings.
Authorities are expected to release additional information as the investigation develops.
