Crime
Suspect Identified as Tjamel Ali Hamlin II in Shooting of Two Mint Hill Officers During Child Custody Exchange at Edible Arrangements
MINT HILL, N.C. — The Mint Hill Police Department announced Saturday that the two officers who were shot during a child custody exchange Friday morning have been treated and released from the hospital and have returned home to continue their recovery.
The shooting occurred at approximately 10:47 a.m. Friday at the Edible Arrangements located on Matthews–Mint Hill Road.
According to police, officers were present to assist with a child custody exchange when a man produced a firearm, leading to an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and responding officers.
Both officers were struck by gunfire above the neck and were initially listed in critical condition.
Despite the severity of their injuries, officials said both officers responded well to treatment and were released from the hospital within a day.
One of the injured officers is a lieutenant with 13 years of law enforcement experience, while the second officer has six months of service with the Mint Hill Police Department.
Police identified the suspect as Tjamel Ali Hamlin II, 35 (date of birth: May 23, 1989). Authorities said Hamlin was shot and killed at the scene.
His family has been notified.
Investigators also confirmed that a firearm was recovered at the location.
The Mint Hill Police Department expressed gratitude for the community’s support in the aftermath of the incident.
“The Mint Hill Police Department sincerely appreciates the continued support, thoughts, and prayers from the community following yesterday’s incident,” the department said in a statement. “In light of the seriousness of their injuries, the Department is extremely grateful for the officers’ progress and their ability to return home so quickly.” Officials also requested privacy for the officers and their families as they recover.
Numerous agencies responded to and assisted with the incident, including the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Mecklenburg Emergency Management, Mint Hill Fire Department, MEDIC, Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
In accordance with standard protocol for officer-involved shootings, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has been requested to conduct an independent investigation into the incident.
In parallel, the Mint Hill Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division will carry out a separate administrative review. Officials stated that all additional inquiries related to the investigation should be directed to the SBI.
For reference, authorities noted that additional information related to the case can be found under report number 251226-01755.
Crime
Investigators Believe Nancy Guthrie Removed From Her Home and Likely Concealed or Disposed of Within a Two-Hour Drive
TUCSON, Ariz. — As the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie continues, analysis of the known timeline suggests she was most likely removed from her residence between approximately 2:30 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. local Tucson time.
Based on that estimated window, investigators and independent analysts believe that if Guthrie was transported from her home, the suspect would have had sufficient time to conceal her or dispose of her remains within a two-hour driving radius of Tucson before first light.
Twilight on Sunday, February 1, 2026, began at approximately 5:40 a.m., providing a limited but significant period of darkness during which a suspect could have traveled undetected.
This geographic radius would encompass large areas of remote desert terrain, rural roadways, mountainous regions, and sparsely populated land across southern Arizona.
Law enforcement has not publicly confirmed a specific search zone but has emphasized that remote areas remain a focus of investigative efforts.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department have been working jointly on the case.
As previously announced, federal authorities recently released four images recovered from Nancy Guthrie’s home surveillance system, including images depicting a masked individual believed to be connected to the case.
Investigators have stated that over the course of eight days, they worked closely with private-sector technology partners to recover digital evidence that may have been lost, corrupted, or rendered inaccessible. Authorities indicated that certain recording devices may have been removed from the home, complicating early evidence collection efforts.
Officials have not publicly confirmed whether Guthrie is deceased, and the case remains classified as a missing person investigation. However, the working theory that she was forcibly removed from her residence during the early morning hours has guided search efforts.
Investigators have emphasized that locations where a victim may have been concealed or transported could still contain critical forensic evidence. If Nancy Guthrie was taken to a secondary location within the estimated timeframe, it is possible that trace evidence — including DNA belonging to both the victim and the perpetrator — could remain recoverable.
Identifying any site containing a combination of Nancy Guthrie’s DNA and that of a suspect would represent a significant breakthrough in the case and could substantially assist law enforcement in determining what occurred.
Authorities continue to urge anyone with information about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance to come forward. Even seemingly minor details — including unusual vehicle activity, suspicious behavior, or knowledge of remote locations accessed during the early morning hours of February 1 — could prove vital.
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.