Woman accused of shooting attorneys in Raleigh doesn't remember the shooting: Court documents
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A woman accused of shooting two attorneys in downtown Raleigh appeared briefly in court Tuesday as her attorney questioned whether she is competent to stand trial.
Gwendolyn White faces two counts of attempted murder in connection with a Friday shooting outside the Wake County Courthouse. During her appearance, her court-appointed attorney filed a motion asking a judge to determine whether White is capable of continuing in the proceedings.
According to the motion filed Tuesday, White told her attorney she has no memory of Friday's shooting. The attorney also said White described what he called a "long standing dispute with the Rolesville Police Department."
Court documents state that White told her attorney "she was demanded to provide schematics of the Pentagon to the police department." She also said she faced constant threats and claimed she and her now late mother were poisoned because she did not provide the materials.
White had been in court Friday for a separate hearing involving a claim she filed against the Rolesville Police Department. In 2022, she requested body camera footage related to a 2021 dispute with neighbors. She received that footage in January 2026, and a judge later dismissed the case.
Police said that after Friday's hearing, White went to her car, retrieved a gun and shot two attorneys who were representing the town of Rolesville in that case. The attorneys are expected to recover.
The case has also drawn attention to safety concerns for attorneys. Retired North Carolina Superior Court Judge Carl Fox, who also served as a prosecutor for decades, said legal professionals can face risks in their work.
"I've been threatened several times. I've worn a bullet proof vest and carried a gun," Fox said.
He added that while precautions are important, attorneys must continue their responsibilities.
"Be aware of potential threats. Be aware of people who are angry with you. But you on the other hand, you got to do your job," Fox said.
White is being held without bond. If convicted, she could face more than 60 years in prison. She is scheduled to return to court in June.
Video full court hearing
How the shooting unfolded
The attorneys she's accused of shooting, Mary K. Harris and Jeffrey R. Whitley, had been representing the town of Rolesville in a case involving White.
The hearing was specifically related to White's lawsuit against Rolesville over police body camera footage tied to an incident at her former home.
Authorities say she left the hearing and was visibly upset before the shooting occurred.
Police say after White left the courthouse, she went to her car, retrieved a handgun, and approached two attorneys in an alley before opening fire.
Officers and deputies nearby quickly took her into custody.
No updated information on the condition of Harris or Whitley has been released since the shooting.
In a statement obtained by ABC11 on Friday, Todd A. Rodriguez, Fox Rothschild's firmwide managing partner, said:
"First and foremost, our thoughts are with our colleagues and their loved ones. We are doing everything possible to support them. We are grateful to the first responders and courthouse personnel who acted quickly to come to their aid.
We cannot adequately express our deep sadness and concern. The safety and well-being of our people is our highest priority.
We are closely monitoring the situation, and our leadership team traveled to our Raleigh office today to provide on-the-ground support."
