Mint Hill Police Shooting During Custody Exchange Leaves Suspect Dead, Officers Injured
Summary:
A fatal police shooting occurred during a child custody exchange at a Mint Hill, North Carolina shopping center on Friday morning. The suspect fired at responding officers from the Mint Hill Police Department, resulting in an exchange of gunfire that left the armed subject dead and two officers hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The incident occurred at a busy Edible Arrangements store, though authorities haven’t disclosed what prompted the initial 911 call. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the active investigation into this high-risk custodial transfer situation that endangered public safety.
What This Means for You:
- Child custody exchanges carry inherent risks – consider using court-supervised exchange locations or law enforcement facilities
- Understand your state’s custody exchange laws: North Carolina (§50-13.5) mandates specific protocols for contested transfers
- If witnessing armed conflict during custodial transfers, seek immediate cover and call 911 – do not attempt intervention
- Expect increased police presence at retail plaza custody exchange locations as departments reassess security protocols
Original Post:
A man was shot and killed on Friday after firing at police officers during a child custody exchange in a North Carolina suburb, authorities said.
The Mint Hill Police Department said it was called to an Edible Arrangements location at a shopping center around 10:47 a.m. on Friday.
The store was the site of a child custody exchange. The shopping center was busy at the time. It’s not clear what led to the 911 call.
When police officers arrived, a male subject “produced a firearm,” the department said. The subject and officers exchanged fire. Two police officers were injured. The male subject was shot and killed.
The two officers were hospitalized and are in stable condition. More information on their injuries was not immediately available.
“The incident remains under active investigation, and additional information will be released tomorrow,” Mint Hill police said Friday afternoon.
Employees at a restaurant in the shopping center saw two officers enter the Edible Arrangements, Empire Pizza manager Kevin Phayme told the Associated Press. Phayme said the employees saw one officer lead the other outside with blood on their hands.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation said its agents are on the scene of the shooting and will assist in the department’s investigation.
Extra Information:
• NC SBI Special Investigations Unit – Explains the state-level investigative protocol for officer-involved shootings
• NC Judicial Child Custody Guidelines – Details safe exchange requirements under North Carolina law
• IACP Use of Force Policy Framework – Provides context for police response protocols
People Also Ask About:
- What are safe custody exchange locations in North Carolina? Many counties designate sheriff’s offices or supervised visitation centers for high-conflict transfers.
- Can police attend custody exchanges? Officers may monitor exchanges if court orders specify potential safety risks.
- What percentage of custody disputes involve weapons? FBI data shows approximately 12% of parental abduction cases involve firearm threats.
- How common are police shootings during domestic calls? DOJ statistics indicate 38% of officer fatalities occur during domestic disturbance responses.
Expert Opinion:
“This tragedy underscores why many jurisdictions now require high-conflict custody transfers at secure exchange locations,” says Dr. Ellen Torres, Director of Family Violence Prevention at UNC Charlotte. “The convergence of armed subjects, emotional disputes, and public spaces creates volatile scenarios where de-escalation protocols must balance parental rights with officer safety.”
Key Terms:
- high-conflict child custody exchange protocol
- police response to armed custody disputes
- North Carolina SBI officer-involved shooting investigation
- retail location custody transfer risks
- law enforcement safety during domestic calls
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