CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. — Authorities said a suspect has been charged after he shot a man Monday morning during an argument outside a courthouse in Lenoir.
The shooting happened around 10:50 a.m. at the Caldwell County Courthouse on Main Street Northwest.
Authorities told Channel 9 that 35-year-old Travis Lee Webb was shot in the middle of the road -- feet from the front doors of the courthouse. He was found by police with wounds to the upper chest and taken to Carolinas Medical Center Main with serious injuries.
48-year-old Chad James Emke was charged in the shooting.
According to police, Webb approached Emke’s pickup truck and the two got into an argument. That’s when Emke pulled out a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and shot Webb in the upper body twice.
According to witnesses, after the shooting, Emke got out of the truck and was surrounded by courthouse bailiffs and taken into custody.
Investigators said there was a 10-year-old child inside the truck when the shots were fired. The child was not hurt.
Emke has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and child endangerment.
Breaking Lenoir- on the scene of a shooting outside the Caldwell County courthouse. One person rushed to the hospital. Suspect in custody. pic.twitter.com/YLv59qDXum
— Dave Faherty (@FahertyWSOC9) July 12, 2021
According to police, Emke had a scheduled court appearance at the Caldwell County Courthouse for custody related issues.
Police said Emke and Webb knew each other and this is believed to be an isolated incident.
The main entrance of the courthouse was shutdown for more than an hour as officers investigated.
(WATCH: Woman stabbed to death in Caldwell County; suspect shot dead by deputies)
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