HICKORY, N.C. — New details about a shooting at a pub that wounded a North Carolina police officer have been shared more than a week later.
The shooting at the Gateway Pub and Grill in Hickory on May 26 unfolded around 2 a.m. after the Hickory Police Department said several gunshots were fired in the area. Officers said they tried to take an armed suspect into custody, but a second suspect took aim at them. One officer was hit twice in the ensuing gunfight, while the second suspect was also shot and wounded by another officer.
On Tuesday, Hickory Police said the officer wounded has been released from the hospital and is recovering from his injuries. He was identified as Ofc. Joseph Hart.
The department also revealed the names of the suspects: Khyren Rashaad Lawerence and Khalil Rashawn Lawerence, both of Jacksonville, Florida. Khyren Lawerence was identified as the initial suspect Hart tried to disarm, while Khalil Lawerence is accused of shooting Hart and getting into the shootout with other officers.
Khyren Lawerence was charged with going armed to the terror of the public and carrying a concealed weapon. Khalil Lawerence was taken to a hospital for treatment and is currently in stable condition. When he is released, he will face grand jury indictments for two counts each of attempted first-degree murder and assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer.
WCNC Charlotte has asked Hickory Police to confirm if the suspects are related.
In the wake of the shootout, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) suspended ABC permits at the Gateway Pub and Grill. The restaurant has had a history of violent events, including shootings, fights and weapons violations over the last two years, according to the agency. Hickory Police Chief Reed Baer noted last week officers have been called to Gateway Pub and Grill more than 250 times since January 2022.
“The Gateway Pub has been and continues to be a place where violence and disorder occur on a regular basis,” Baer said. “The Gateway Pub has not only been a drain on our resources but also a place that threatens the safety of our community. This latest incident in which one of our officers was shot highlights a wanton disregard for public safety that must end.”
"We hope this suspension will prevent future acts of violence at this location and have a positive impact on this community,” ALE Director Bryan House said.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting. The officer who shot and wounded Khalil Lawrence has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Hickory Police Department Criminal Investigations Division.