The day after Christmas is usually a time for quiet reflection and family, but for the community of Mint Hill, North Carolina, the peace was shattered Friday morning. What was supposed to be a routine, safe-haven child custody exchange at a local Edible Arrangements turned into a violent scene of chaos. By the time the smoke cleared, two police officers were fighting for their lives and a suspect was dead.
The call came in around 10:47 a.m. at the Mint Hill Commons shopping center on Matthews-Mint Hill Road. Officers were dispatched to the fruit arrangement shop to stand by during a scheduled custody swap—a service police often provide to ensure things remain civil between parents. However, things took a dark turn almost immediately.
According to the Mint Hill Police Department, a man involved in the exchange pulled out a handgun as officers were present. Within seconds, a shootout erupted inside or just outside the storefront. Witnesses nearby, including staff at the neighboring Empire Pizza, described a terrifying scene. One manager recalled seeing his employees on a smoke break watch as officers entered the store, only to see one officer emerge moments later, leading a colleague out with blood visible on their hands.
The suspect, whose identity has not yet been released by authorities, was shot during the exchange of gunfire and pronounced dead at the scene. While the immediate threat was neutralized, the cost was high. Two of the responding officers were struck by bullets and rushed to a nearby hospital, where they currently remain in critical condition. A third officer was also taken to the hospital for a mental health evaluation following the trauma of the event.
The area surrounding the shopping center was quickly locked down, with yellow crime tape stretching across the parking lot and dozens of evidence markers dotting the pavement. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has since taken the lead on the case, which is standard procedure for shootings involving law enforcement officers.
Local leaders were quick to voice their heartbreak over the incident. North Carolina Representative Tricia Cotham took to social media to ask for the public’s prayers, stating that her heart was with the Mint Hill Police Department during this incredibly difficult time. The town of Mint Hill, a quiet suburb of about 27,000 people just east of Charlotte, is now grappling with the reality of such violence occurring in a place so familiar to local families.
As the sun sets on a day that began with tragedy, the focus remains on the two officers in the hospital. Investigators are still working to piece together exactly what triggered the suspect to open fire during a moment that was meant to be about the well-being of a child. For now, the community waits for updates, hoping for a recovery for the men who walked into a routine call and ended up in the line of fire.
