Gwendolyn White, Who Publicly Accused NC DHHS of Allowing Her 90-Year-Old Mother to Die from Neglect Under Guardianship, Charged with Attempted Murder in Raleigh Courthouse Shooting

Gwendolyn White Arrested After Shooting Two Attorneys Outside Wake County Courthouse

Gwendolyn White, 57, the woman who spent more than a year and half calling out the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Wake County Adult Protective Services of allegedly allowing her 90-year-old mother to die from severe neglect and abuse while under state guardianship, was arrested Friday after allegedly shooting two attorneys outside the Wake County Courthouse.

According to Raleigh Police, White, was in court for a hearing in a civil case including Rolesville Police Department when the incident occurred. Police say she became belligerent during the proceeding, left the courthouse, retrieved a gun from her vehicle, and opened fire on two attorneys who had been representing Rolesville PD.

Both attorneys, Mary K. Harris and Jeffrey R. Whitley, of Fox Rothschild, a national law firm with offices in Raleigh, were shot and wounded.

White was taken into custody at the scene and now faces attempted murder charges.

White has repeatedly called out the State of North Carolina, DHHS, and Rolesville Police over the treatment and eventual death of her mother, Elleen Abrom White.

Gwendolyn White’s Long Fight Against NC DHHS and Guardianship

Gwendolyn White has been one of the most vocal critics of how North Carolina handled her mother’s care. Elleen Abrom White, born in 1935, died on May 13, 2025, at the age of 90.

According to Gwendolyn’s public statements, social media posts, and fundraising efforts, her mother was placed under the guardianship of Wake County DHHS Adult Protective Services in late 2024. She claims her mother was moved to Oxford Universal Healthcare & Rehab Nursing, now known as Oxford Health and Rehabilitation Center, where she suffered extreme neglect.

Gwendolyn has alleged that her mother developed more than 30 open bedsores, was left lying in urine and feces, and was only given food and water when staff knew she was coming to visit. She has repeatedly stated that a wound care provider told her that someone poured acid into her mother’s open wounds, causing additional horrific injuries.

She has also claimed that her mother suffered from multiple infections, starvation, and dehydration while under state guardianship, and that she was blocked from properly advocating for her mother for nearly eight months.

Gwendolyn has directly blamed NC DHHS and the appointed guardian for failing to protect her mother, going as far as calling her mother’s death a result of neglect and systemic failure by the State of North Carolina.

In addition to the nursing home and guardianship allegations, Gwendolyn has long claimed that she and her mother were poisoned with arsenic and faced years of harassment in the Rolesville area. She has accused Rolesville Police of refusing to investigate these incidents properly.

On Friday, Gwendolyn White appeared in Wake County court for a hearing in her case against Rolesville Police. According to Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce, she became agitated during the hearing.

After leaving the courtroom, White allegedly went to her vehicle, got a handgun, and returned to shoot Harris and Whitley as they exited the old Wake County Courthouse on Fayetteville Street around 10:30 a.m.

Both victims were struck multiple times. One attorney required surgery, while the other was listed in stable condition.

White was arrested at the scene. She is currently facing two counts of attempted murder.

A Mother’s Death and a Daughter’s Public Battle

For months, Gwendolyn White used social media to document what she described as the horrific final months of her mother’s life. She shared photos she said were taken at the funeral home showing the extent of the bedsores and repeatedly called out both the nursing home and Wake County DHHS for what she believes was deadly neglect.

She has framed her legal fight against Rolesville Police as part of her broader effort to hold the State of North Carolina accountable for her mother’s death.

Gwendolyn White remains in custody.