A tense courtroom hearing in North Carolina concluded with gunfire when a woman allegedly shot two opposing attorneys outside the Wake County Courthouse, according to police. Gwendolyn E. White, 57, of Raleigh, faces two counts of attempted murder after the incident on Friday morning.
Shooting After Civil Hearing
Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce told reporters that the shooting occurred around 10:30 a.m. shortly after a civil hearing involving White and the town of Rolesville. White allegedly became belligerent during the hearing and was asked to leave the old courthouse. She departed, returned in her vehicle, and opened fire on the two lawyers outside the building.
The victims, Mary Harris and Jeffrey Whitley, are attorneys with Fox Rothschild's Raleigh office, representing Rolesville. They were found with gunshot wounds and taken to a local hospital. Boyce said he did not know the extent of their injuries.
Suspect Arrested and Charged
Law enforcement officers at the scene immediately took White into custody. The shooting prompted a lockdown of the courthouse and closures of several downtown Raleigh streets as police investigated. White is held without bond at the Wake County Sheriff's Office and is scheduled to appear in court on May 26.
The town of Rolesville expressed sadness over the incident, stating, "We are saddened to learn that two attorneys representing the Town of Rolesville in a civil matter were shot outside the Wake County Courthouse this morning. Fox Rothschild has represented the Town of Rolesville for decades, and while they are not employees of the Town, this incident is deeply disturbing. We are thankful to the first responders who provided life-saving care and apprehended a suspect. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved."
Victims' Backgrounds
According to Fox Rothschild's website, Harris graduated from North Carolina State University in 2019 and earned her law degree from Campbell University in 2022. She previously served as managing editor of the Campbell Law Observer and has been recognized as a "Rising Star" for civil litigation by North Carolina Super Lawyers twice. Whitley earned degrees in psychology and public administration from Florida State University in 2002 before graduating from Duke University School of Law in 2013. He previously worked as an associate at Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP.
It remains unclear whether any ruling was issued in the underlying civil case before the shooting.
