A shocking courthouse shooting in Raleigh, North Carolina has sparked major concern after police say a woman opened fire on two attorneys outside the Wake County Courthouse following a civil court hearing. The suspect, identified as 57-year-old Gwendolyn White, was arrested Friday and charged with two counts of attempted murder after allegedly shooting attorneys Mary Katherine Harris and Jeffrey Whitley, both connected to the law firm Fox Rothschild. The incident happened near the old Wake County Courthouse in downtown Raleigh shortly after the parties had been inside the same 10th-floor courtroom. (ABC11 Raleigh-Durham)
According to Raleigh police, White had been involved in a long-running civil dispute connected to the Rolesville Police Department. Court records show she had filed a case seeking body camera footage tied to a prior incident, but the case had previously been dismissed. Friday’s hearing was reportedly meant to determine whether that civil case could be reinstated. Police Chief Rico Boyce said White became “belligerent” during the court proceeding before leaving the courthouse. Investigators say she then went to her vehicle, retrieved a handgun, approached the two attorneys in an alley, and shot them. (ABC News)
The victims, Mary Harris and Jeffrey Whitley, were reportedly representing the Town of Rolesville in the civil matter involving White. Both attorneys survived the shooting, and Raleigh police later said they were expected to recover from their injuries. Harris reportedly underwent surgery, while Whitley was listed in stable condition in early reports. White was taken into custody at the scene and remained jailed without bond, with her next court appearance expected shortly after the shooting. (Raleigh News & Observer)
The case has raised serious questions about courthouse security, attorney safety, and how volatile civil disputes can escalate after emotional hearings. Wake County officials closed courthouse operations for the remainder of the day after the shooting, while law enforcement continued investigating the full timeline of events. The incident has also fueled online discussion about whether attorneys, judges, court staff, and litigants need stronger protection when high-conflict cases spill outside the courtroom. (ABC11 Raleigh-Durham)
As the investigation continues, the Raleigh courthouse shooting remains one of North Carolina’s most talked-about breaking crime stories. Police have not suggested the attack was random; instead, they believe the suspect and victims were connected through the same civil court case. White now faces attempted murder charges, while the legal community in Raleigh and beyond is watching closely to see how the case moves forward.
