On March 7, 2026, at approximately 8:45 p.m., officers with the Henderson Police Department were dispatched to 101 N. Cooper Drive in reference to a report of an individual discharging a firearm.
Upon arrival, officers conducted a thorough canvass of the area, searching for victims, witnesses, surveillance footage, and physical evidence. While no injuries were reported, officers did locate evidence confirming that a firearm had been discharged.
Through the course of the investigation, officers obtained video footage and additional information that led to the identification of two suspects: Qualil Tyron Champion (23) and Lishawn Knott (21). Warrants were subsequently obtained for both individuals.
Within three days of the incident, both suspects were located, arrested, and placed in the Vance County Detention Center without bond.
Both individuals are convicted felons with prior firearm-related offenses. Champion had been released from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction approximately 150 days prior to this incident, and Knott had been released just 14 days prior.
On Friday, March 20, 2026, Henderson Police Department Task Force Officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) obtained and served federal detainers on both individuals.
The Henderson Police Department remains committed to working with our state and federal partners to address violent crime and enhance public safety within our community.
— from Marcus W. Barrow, Chief of Police