Woman in critical condition, officers injured in shooting at Wilson courthouse; Suspect in custody

Updated 1 hour ago
WILSON, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Wilson Police Department released new details about a shooting that happened downtown on Monday morning. The suspect was taken into custody.

According to police, the shooting happened at the Wilson County Courthouse around 10:40 a.m. During an afternoon news conference, police said a 19-year-old woman was shot outside the courthouse. She's listed in critical condition at the hospital.

Police said they believe the shooting was a retaliation shooting that's related to the investigation of a teen who was shot and killed three weeks ago in Wilson; the woman who was shot Monday is related to the murder suspect in that investigation, according to police.

As officers responded, the suspect exchanged gunshots with officers before running from the scene. A Wilson officer and a Wilson County deputy were shot during the exchange. The officer was taken to ECU Health Medical Center and was expected to be OK.

Bobby Jenkins, who saw the shootout with police, said he also saw the suspect when he tried to hide from officers.



"I see this guy running through the parking lot firing a gun. He jumps the wall, and another bends down here and actually hides behind the wall. So everybody's looking for him, but nobody can find him. Then, he finally comes across the wall to get back on the street and start firing shots again at the police officer," Jenkins told ABC11.

The suspect, 21-year-old Abdul Karim Mustafa, was found not far from the area of the shooting and taken into custody.

Abdul Karim Mustafa was taken into custody after the Wilson courthouse shooting on Monday, July 13, 2026



He is facing numerous charges, including attempted first-degree murder.

The Wilson County Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting at the courthouse. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is investigating the officer-involved gunfire exchange.

The Wilson Police Department is encouraging anyone with information regarding the shooting to call (252) 399-2323 or Crime Stoppers at (252) 243-2255.



This story will be updated as more information is released.


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