(HICKORY) –Robert Mitchell Lester was taken into custody on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, for charges related to the officer-involved shooting case that occurred on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
On Monday, February 16, a Catawba County grand jury returned a true bill of indictment for Robert Mitchell Lester, 35, of Hickory, for the following charges: Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Government Official, Felony Assaulting a Law Enforcement Agency Animal, Felony Going Armed to the Terror of the People, Misdemeanor Injury to Personal Property, and Misdemeanor Resisting a Public Officer.
On Tuesday, March 3, with the assistance of Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, the charges were served on Lester after being released from the hospital. He is now in custody at the Catawba County Detention Facility under no bond.
This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information related to this case is asked to call the Hickory Police Department at 828-328-5551 or Investigator Richard Helderman at 828-261-2600, ext. 2621.
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Original Release 2/8/26:
On Sunday, February 8, 2026, at 9:35 am, a Hickory Police Officer was sitting in his marked police vehicle in the parking lot of El Paso Mexican Restaurant, 1709 N Center St.
The officer observed a white male later identified as Robert Mitchell Lester, 35, of Hickory walking towards his patrol vehicle with a knife in his hand. The officer exited his vehicle and confronted Lester. Lester continued to walk towards the officer in an aggressive manner and verbally challenged the officer. Additional officers arrived on scene
and gave Lester numerous commands to drop the knife he was holding. Lester continued to challenge the officers then proceeded to flee on foot towards St. Luke’s United
Methodist Church, 52 16th Avenue NW where church members were arriving for service. A K-9 Officer released his K-9 in attempt to apprehend Lester. Lester attempted to stab the K-9 as he continued to flee towards the property of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.
Officers continued to pursue Lester as he ran across the property of St. Luke’s. One officer fell to the ground as he and Lester approached 16th Avenue NW. Lester turned toward the officer with the knife in his hand and officers fired their weapons, striking Lester. Officers took Lester into custody and immediately began providing first aid. He was transported to Carolinas Medical Center and is currently in stable condition.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation was requested and responded to conduct an independent investigation of the officer involved shooting. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation.
In reference to this incident, Robert Mitchell Lester will have multiple charges pending upon his release from the hospital. Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Hickory Police Department at 828-328-5551 or Investigator Richard Helderman at 828-261-2600, ext. 2621.