Charlotte Reporter's Records Request Rejected by Top NC Court

The North Carolina Supreme Court will not consider a TV reporter's pursuit of records linked to a fatal 2023 shooting involving private security guards.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 1:15pm

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The North Carolina Supreme Court has rejected a Charlotte television reporter's request to access records related to a fatal 2023 shooting involving private security guards. The high court denied the reporter's petition, siding with the private security company, Allied Universal, which argued the records were confidential under the state's public records law. The reporter, Nick Ochsner, had sought the names and addresses of the two security guards involved in the shooting of a trespasser at a commercial building in Charlotte.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tension between press freedom and privacy protections, as well as the legal status of private security companies that increasingly perform law enforcement functions. The ruling affirms that private security firms can shield the identities of their employees involved in use-of-force incidents, even when those incidents result in a death, raising concerns about public transparency and accountability.

The details

In September 2023, two Allied Universal security guards were called to a report of a trespasser urinating outside a commercial building in Charlotte. The trespasser allegedly fired a gun at the guards while attempting to flee, prompting the guards to return fire, resulting in the trespasser's death. After the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department investigated the shooting, reporter Nick Ochsner requested the names and addresses of the two security guards involved, but both the police department and Allied Universal declined to provide that information, citing confidentiality under the state's public records law. Ochsner then pursued legal action to try to compel the release of the guards' identities, but the North Carolina Court of Appeals and now the state Supreme Court have rejected his request.

  • In September 2023, the fatal shooting incident occurred.
  • In March 2025, the North Carolina Court of Appeals issued a 2-1 ruling rejecting Ochsner's request for the security guards' identities.
  • Two weeks later, in April 2025, Ochsner filed a petition with the state Supreme Court.
  • On January 30, 2026, the North Carolina Supreme Court denied Ochsner's petition, ending his pursuit of the records.

The players

Nick Ochsner

A Charlotte television news reporter who has been pursuing records related to the 2023 fatal shooting involving private security guards.

Allied Universal

A private security company that employed the two guards involved in the 2023 shooting incident in Charlotte.

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The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing press freedom and public transparency with the privacy rights of individuals, especially when private security firms are involved in use-of-force incidents. The ruling suggests the courts may be reluctant to compel the release of employee identities in such cases, even when a death occurs, raising concerns about accountability and oversight of private law enforcement activities.