Man, woman charged in connection with Wilson County Courthouse shooting
WILSON, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Wilson County Sheriff's Office has charged two additional people in connection with the shooting that happened on Monday outside the county courthouse.
According to arrest warrants obtained by ABC11, 28-year-old Terri Lorenzo Covington and 18-year-old Ja'lexis Arshae Applewhite are both charged with accessory in the shooting that injured a woman and two officers.
The warrants state that Covington and Applewhite are each charged with accessory before the fact by counseling and commanding Abdul Karin Fadil Mustafa to commit attempted murder. The warrant also states that because of the counseling and commanding, Mustafa carried out the attempted murder.
On Tuesday, the accused shooter, Abdul Mustafa, made his first court appearance on charges of attempted first-degree murder, going armed to the terror of the people, discharging a firearm in city limits and damage to real property. The judge denied bond for him and requested an out-of-district public defender be appointed to represent him.
Investigators say the shooting was a 'retaliation shooting' for a teen's death from three weeks ago in Wilson.
The woman who was shot remains in the hospital, and the two officers are recovering. All three were hit by gunfire outside the Wilson County Courthouse Monday morning. According to the Wilson County Sheriff's Office, the woman was shot while on her way into the courthouse. The officers were shot shortly after in a shootout with the suspect.
Courthouse shooting timeline
Investigators said they believe the woman was shot in a retaliation shooting that's related to the investigation of a teen who was shot and killed three weeks ago in Wilson.
They say the suspect (Abdul Mustafa) was lying in wait on a bench in front of the Wilson County Courthouse when she arrived around 10:40 a.m. Mustafa shot her several times as she was walking up the steps to the courthouse. The 19-year-old woman is believed to be the sister of the 17-year-old charged with killing 16-year-old Ladarrius Simmons.
When officers from the Wilson County Sheriff's Office and Wilson Police Department responded to the courthouse after the woman was shot, they say Mustafa started shooting at officers. Officers returned fire and Mustafa ran away from the scene and was taken into custody shortly after.
A Wilson police officer and a Wilson County deputy were shot during the gunfire exchange. Both are expected to make a full recovery.
Investigators say the woman was scheduled to be in court Tuesday for her alleged role as an accessory after the fact in Ladarrius' murder.
SEE ALSO | Wilson shooting raises courthouse security concerns
WATCH | Timeline of how the shooting unfolded
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 encourages 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.
