Two Mint Hill police officers were critically injured during a child custody exchange at an Edible Arrangements store, WBTV reported. They have been stabilized and underwent surgery, according to Mayor Robert Burns.
The man involved in the shooting was killed in the exchange of gunfire. Witnesses at nearby Empire Pizza reported a sudden arrival of police and the scene being secured with tape, according to Kevin Phayme, the restaurant’s general manager, speaking to AP News.
Nearby businesses, including Empire Pizza, temporarily locked their doors during the incident. “Let’s secure our business and make sure everybody is safe,” said Kevin Phayme, the restaurant’s manager, in an interview with WBTV. Mint Hill Mayor Dale Dalton noted the community’s support for the officers and their families.
The State Bureau of Investigation responded to the officer-involved shooting, following standard procedures. Bethany Lisk, an Empire Pizza employee, told WCNC, “The whole place was just swarmed with cops; there was another one helping the injured cop.”
