Raleigh Police Make Arrest In Shots Fired Incident On Shaw’s Campus 

RALEIGH – On Tuesday (April 23), at approximately 1:25 p.m., the Raleigh Police Department responded to a report of shots fired in the area of 130 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on Shaw University’s campus. Upon arrival, officers determined that an adult male had fired gunshots on the campus. 

An arrest has been made in this incident. Kamal Rasool Abdal-Rafi, 74, was arrested and charged with one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Kill, four counts of Discharging a Firearm on Educational Property (Felonies), five counts of Possession of a Firearm on Educational Property (Felonies), one count of Going Armed to the Terror of the Public (Misdemeanor), and one count of Cruelty to Animals (Misdemeanor).

The preliminary investigation indicates that Abdal-Rafi engaged in a verbal altercation with the adult male victim in front of the International Studies Building at Shaw University, which includes classrooms and the King Khalid Mosque. The suspect fired shots at the victim, and no one was injured. The suspect was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit by a Shaw University Police officer and an on-duty Wake County Alcohol Beverage Control Commission (ABC) agent. Neither the victim nor the suspect is a student or staff member of Shaw University.

Abdal-Rafi was apprehended with three weapons in his possession. Two additional weapons were located in his vehicle.

The RPD extended thanks to the Shaw University Police Department and the Wake County ABC Commission for their immediate response during this investigation.

This is an ongoing investigation. Additional information will be released at the appropriate time.