Who was Tjamel Ali Hamlin II? Suspect in the Mint Hill officer shooting case

Two Mint Hill officers were wounded during a shooting at a custody exchange on Friday. Suspect Tjamel Ali Hamlin II died at the scene.

Published on: Dec 28, 2025, 05:13:43 IST

By Shirin Gupta

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A gunfight broke out during a child custody exchange at Edible Arrangements on Matthews-Mint Hill Road, according to Mint Hill Police. Two officers from Mint Hill were critically injured after being shot.

Suspect Tjamel Ali Hamlin II died at the scene during the Mint Hill shooting (Unsplash)

The deceased suspect has been identified by the Mint Hill Police Department (MHPD) as Tjamel Hamlin II. Both an officer with six months of duty and a lieutenant with thirteen years of experience were shot above the neck. According to the MHPD, both officers have been released from the hospital and are currently at home.

Who was Tjamel Ali Hamlin II?

Tjamel Ali Hamlin II, a 36-year-old man from North Carolina, has been identified as the suspect who opened fire at Mint Hill police officers during a child custody exchange on December 26.

Law enforcement officers were responding to a child custody exchange shortly before 11 a.m. when Hamlin allegedly produced a firearm and began shooting.

The shooting took place at the Edible Arrangements store in the Mint Hill Commons shopping center. There was a gunfire exchange between Hamlin and Mint Hill police, which left Hamlin dead at the scene and two police officers injured. Both officers were struck above the neck but have since recovered and returned home, the police said.

Investigation ongoing, officers recovered

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) is assisting the ongoing probe into what led to the confrontation.

Meanwhile, the department is relieved that both the injured officers are back home safe. The MHPD said, "The Department is extremely grateful for their progress and ability to return home so quickly. The Department respectfully requests privacy for the officers and their families during this time.”

As is customary, a separate inquiry is being carried out by the internal affairs division as well.

The identities of the two officers have not been revealed at the time of reporting.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shirin Gupta
Shirin Gupta is a content producer with the Hindustan Times. She covers everything between politics, entertainment and sports at the US desk. Shirin got interested in political journalism during her time as a web editor at her college newspaper NCC News in Syracuse when she first started seeing the effects of national politics in life of her fellow colleagues. Shirin has worked on a wide range of fast-moving and developing stories locally when she was at NCC editing accessible reports for the audience. Her current role requires her to track real-time updates, verify information and present balanced coverage across diverse beats. Covering US politics from an international newsroom perspective has further deepened her understanding of how domestic decisions can have far-reaching global consequences. With a keen interest in international affairs, Shirin continues to build her expertise in geopolitics, policy shifts, and cross-border developments. She aims to learn and evolve her reporting in matters of geopolitics and international issues. Outside the newsroom Shirin writes about books and music for her personal blog. She is an avid consumer of pop culture and reveres literature.Read More

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