Man shot by 2 Holly Springs police officers in stable condition, was arrested 2 days ago

A man shot by two officers early Thursday outside a closed Target store had reached into his clothing and shown a gun, the Holly Springs Police Department said.

The man, Tripp Walker Sheckells, 23, of Apex, was taken to a hospital, where he was in stable condition Thursday afternoon, police said.

The 911 call

A store employee letting workers in for the morning called 911 shortly before 4 a.m. about a “strange person sitting on the ground” outside the closed entrance of the store at 100 Grand Hill Place, according to a copy of the 911 call requested by The News & Observer.

What police say happened

Soon after two officers found him, Sheckells “reached into his clothing and presented a handgun,” police said in an update Thursday afternoon.

Both officers then fired their weapons, striking Sheckells. The officers were not injured, and it does not appear that Sheckells fired his weapon, the release stated.

The officers began providing first aid, while emergency medical services and additional officers were called.

The criminal charges

Sheckells faces two counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a government officer and one count of carrying a concealed gun, police said.

He had a 9 mm Beretta according to police radio traffic released upon a public-records request from The N&O.

Sheckells had just been arrested on Tuesday by the Wake County Sheriff’s Office and charged with carrying a concealed gun, police said.

The release did not say how many times the officers fired their weapons or how many times Sheckells was hit.

Officers placed on leave

The officers — Officer Cozy Jackson and Cpl. Anthony Minchella — have been placed on administrative leave, while the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation reviews the incident, which is standard procedure in all shootings by police.

Jackson transferred into the Holly Springs Police Department in January 2024 after 2 ½ years with another North Carolina law enforcement agency, and Minchella has worked for the department since August 2014, police said.

Holly Springs chief asks for patience

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident,” Police Chief Paul J. Liquorie said in the release.

“We are committed to cooperating with a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the circumstances of the shooting,” he said. “We understand the impact of such incidents on our community and are dedicated to maintaining the trust and safety of Holly Springs residents.”

This story was originally published April 4, 2024 at 8:04 AM.