MINT HILL, N.C. — Everyone at the Mint Hill Police Department is breathing a sigh of relief that two officers involved in a deadly child custody exchange were able to walk out of the hospital Saturday afternoon.
The shootout happened Friday morning, just before 11 a.m. Kevin Phayne, a pizza parlor manager, saw the aftermath and how the officers tried to help each other.
[ PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Child custody exchange turns deadly, injuring two officers in Mint Hill ]
“One was helping his partner come out and he had blood on his hands. He was the one who was helping him and had to lay him down by the front,” said Phayne. “The other partner was stumbling, trying to gather himself from the shock of being shot.”
Sources tell us just how close of a call this was. Both officers suffered head wounds. In one case, the bullet went around and didn’t damage the brain and in the other, the bullet exited through the cheek and never hit bone or teeth.
“That’s a miracle. I’m a firm believer, born again Christian,” said Phayne. “I know when you hear things like that, especially right after Christmas, it’s just amazing.”
“I think it’s nothing but God,” said Darlene Clark, a resident. “God blessed them.”
Clark lives in Mint Hill and is a former law enforcement officer.
“I’m glad they are released from the hospital,” she said.
“On the other side to your point, it’s unfortunate that young child no longer has a father, it’s unfortunate that it had to come to this, but thank God it did not spread any further,” said Phayne.
The department did not identify those officers, but says that one of them is a lieutenant with 13 years of experience and the other is a rookie who has only been on the force for six months. Both are now recovering at home.
The name of the gunman has been released. He is Tjamel Ali Hamlin. He is 36-years-old and was shot and killed during an exchange of gunfire with the officers.
VIDEO: MEDIC: 1 seriously hurt in east Charlotte shooting
This browser does not support the video element.