Families Criticize Decision Not to Charge Officers in Wilmington Police Shootings

Wilmington Officers Cleared in Shooting, Drawing Sharp Rebuke From Families and Advocates

On October 27, 2026, family members and civil rights advocates gathered on Red Cross Street in Wilmington to condemn a recent decision by District Attorney Jason Smith clearing law enforcement officers of criminal charges in a police shooting. The gathering brought together families demanding transparency after probes by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation concluded without indictments.

The decision shields three Wilmington police officers and two New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office deputies from criminal liability following the August 21 shooting of Rodney Wilson. Investigators maintained that multiple law enforcement officers returned fire after Wilson shot at officers, leaving Wilson with serious injuries. Wilson faces criminal charges connected to the incident.

However, that official narrative faces fierce pushback from Wilson’s father, Rodney Dixon. While acknowledging that his son possessed a firearm during the incident, Dixon disputes the claim that Wilson fired at the responding officers.

“They started running at him, aggressive, no de-escalation at all,” Dixon said during the news conference. “He was having a crisis. They came to kill.”

Mental Health Crisis and Calls for De-Escalation

Dixon explained that his son has a history of mental health issues and was living with his grandmother on Red Cross Street when the shooting took place. Rather than receiving specialized crisis intervention, Dixon argues his son was met with immediate, lethal force.

Speakers at the October 27 event emphasized the urgent need for systemic changes in how armed officers respond to psychological emergencies. Sonya Patrick, the National Black Leadership Caucus’ Southeastern Region chair, voiced profound disappointment regarding the district attorney’s ruling.

“Is this who America is, where excessive force (is) used in Black and brown communities, and the officers walk away?” she asked. Patrick added that law enforcement personnel should not serve as “judge, jury, and executioner.”

Dixon echoed those sentiments, calling for more de-escalation training for law enforcement officers. He maintained that carrying a badge and a firearm does not grant officers the right to use deadly force when people are going through mental issues.

Connecting Past Shootings and Demanding Video Evidence

The demonstration also highlighted parallel grievances surrounding another fatal encounter involving local law enforcement. Relatives of Edilberto Sierra—a Willard man who was shot and killed by officers in a downtown Wilmington parking deck on March 8—participated in the news conference.

Following an SBI probe into that case, the district attorney’s office determined that seven New Hanover deputies and Wilmington police officers were justified in using deadly force. Across both cases, community advocates and affected family members have repeatedly urged authorities to release all available video related to the shooting to clarify the sequence of events.

Wilson himself continues a difficult recovery process. Dixon reported that his son is able to move from his bed into a wheelchair, but still faces a lengthy rehabilitation process and emotional trauma stemming from the August shooting.

As the legal avenues for criminal charges against the officers close, family members maintain their call for institutional reform, comprehensive medical care for Wilson, and full public disclosure of the investigative records.