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Mint Hill mayor confirms two officers shot during custody exchange

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On Friday morning, Dec. 26, 2025, two Mint Hill Police officers were shot during a reported custody-exchange at an Edible Arrangements on Matthews‑Mint Hill Road in Mint Hill, North Carolina. Officials said the officers were critically wounded in a shootout with a suspect, who was shot and killed at the scene; the suspect’s name has not been released. Later the same afternoon, Mint Hill Police reported both officers were in stable condition and said they would provide additional updates on Saturday, Dec. 27. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is leading a standard probe into the officer‑involved shooting.

Key takeaways

  • Two Mint Hill officers were struck by gunfire during a custody exchange at an Edible Arrangements on Matthews‑Mint Hill Road on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025.
  • The suspect was shot and killed at the scene; officials have not released the suspect’s identity as of the latest statement.
  • Mint Hill Police initially described the officers as critically injured; the department later said both were in stable condition the same afternoon.
  • The SBI is investigating the incident, which is standard procedure for officer‑involved shootings in North Carolina.
  • Witnesses across the street report seeing officers leave the store with visible blood and one officer being assisted by a partner.
  • Local elected officials — including state Senator Woodson Bradley and Rep. Tricia Cotham — publicly commented and expressed concern for the officers and those affected.

Background

Custody exchanges, especially when one party alleges abuse or there is a contentious separation, are recognized by law enforcement and domestic‑violence advocates as high‑risk encounters. Agencies often recommend neutral, public locations and supervised exchanges when there are documented threats, and some municipalities run formal exchange programs to reduce risk. The Mint Hill shooting occurred at a commercial storefront on a morning when officers were responding to a reported child custody transfer, according to police statements.

In North Carolina, the SBI routinely leads inquiries into shootings involving law enforcement to ensure an independent review of facts, evidence and use‑of‑force decisions. That investigative structure is intended to preserve chain of custody for physical evidence and to provide a degree of separation between local departments and the investigative body tasked with reviewing officer actions. Community stakeholders typically await SBI findings before criminal or administrative outcomes are announced.

Main event

Mint Hill Police said officers responded to the Edible Arrangements location after being called for a child custody exchange. Authorities allege that during the exchange a man produced a firearm and shots were fired; the department described a shootout in which officers were hit and returned fire. Two officers were struck by gunfire and transported to medical facilities; initial status was critical, with the department later reporting both were stable on the afternoon of Dec. 26.

The suspect was shot and killed at the scene, and investigators have not released the person’s name. The SBI arrived to assume the investigation, collect evidence and interview witnesses. Investigators have not published a timeline of precise actions taken by each party inside the store, and details such as the number of rounds exchanged or whether body‑worn camera footage will be released have not been disclosed.

Eyewitness accounts from a restaurant across the street described officers exiting the Edible Arrangements location with visible bleeding. Kevin Phayme, general manager of Empire Pizza, said employees on a smoke break saw two officers enter the store and one emerge with blood on his face, assisted by a partner. Those accounts are part of the SBI’s witness canvass, which investigators said they would incorporate into the broader evidence review.

Analysis & implications

The incident highlights risks tied to private custody transfers and underscores why many police departments and family‑court advocates promote supervised or exchange‑center arrangements for high‑risk cases. If future inquiries show the custody exchange contributed to the confrontation, local officials may face renewed pressure to expand formal exchange programs or to advise different procedures for parents with documented histories of violence.

From a policing perspective, the SBI investigation will examine whether officers followed department policy and whether any equipment, training or procedural gaps influenced the outcome. Independent reviews can lead to criminal referrals, administrative discipline or policy revisions; they can also affect public trust, depending on the speed and transparency of disclosures. Communities often look for a clear evidentiary timeline, including body‑cam footage and forensic results, before forming conclusions about officer conduct.

There are also political and resource implications: high‑profile local shootings tend to prompt calls for additional funding for officer safety, community outreach and domestic‑violence prevention. Elected leaders’ statements, such as those from Senator Woodson Bradley and Rep. Tricia Cotham, signal that state lawmakers are watching the case, which could shape legislative interest in custody‑exchange safeguards or victim services.

Incident facts
Item Detail
Date Friday, Dec. 26, 2025
Location Edible Arrangements, Matthews‑Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill, NC
Injuries Two Mint Hill officers struck by gunfire; later reported stable
Suspect Shot and killed; identity not released
Investigation North Carolina SBI leading probe

The simple table above summarizes publicly confirmed facts as released by Mint Hill Police and reporting from WCNC. It does not reflect evidence still under review by the SBI, such as ballistic analyses or forensic timelines. Readers should expect updates as investigators complete interviews, process physical evidence and decide on disclosures.

Reactions & quotes

Local witnesses and elected officials reacted quickly after the shooting, reflecting both immediate concern and longer‑running anxieties about domestic disputes and public safety.

“They saw one of the officers come out, have blood on his face and he was being brought out by his partner.”

Kevin Phayme, general manager, Empire Pizza (witness account)

“This is awful. My heart goes out to the officers and their families.”

Sen. Woodson Bradley (Facebook post)

“My heart is with Mint Hill Police. I’m closely monitoring the situation and I’m in contact with authorities.”

Rep. Tricia Cotham (X post)

Unconfirmed

  • The suspect’s identity has not been released; official confirmation of name and background is pending the SBI and local authorities.
  • The motive for the shooting beyond the reported custody exchange has not been publicly established by investigators.
  • Precise details about the number of shots fired, weapon types, and whether body‑worn camera video will be released remain unconfirmed.

Bottom line

The Dec. 26, 2025 incident in Mint Hill left two officers injured and a suspect dead, and it has prompted an SBI investigation that will determine the evidentiary record and next steps. In the short term the focus will be on medical updates for the officers, forensic processing at the scene and witness interviews to construct a timeline of events inside the store.

Longer term, this case may reignite conversations about how custody exchanges are managed and whether public policy should expand supervised exchange services or other protections for families at risk. For now, community leaders and residents will be watching the SBI review and official releases for a clearer account of what occurred and why.

Sources

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