Four law enforcement officers were shot and killed, while four others were wounded, during an attempt to serve two warrants in Charlotte, North Carolina, according to police reports on Monday.
At approximately 1:30 p.m. in the local time zone, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force was in the process of executing active felony warrants for a male suspect at a residence on Galway Drive in the North Tryon Division of the city. The warrants were for charges related to possession of a firearm by a felon and felony flee to elude.
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According to police, Terry Clark Hughes, Jr., a 39-year-old man, reportedly started shooting and hit several officers.
The officers at the scene urgently called for additional support. According to reports, the suspect persisted in firing shots even as more officers arrived to assist.
Hughes allegedly left the house with a handgun. According to police, officers fired on Hughes because they saw him as an “imminent deadly threat.” The site eventually pronounced the suspect dead.
Gunfire struck eight officers, sending them to local hospitals.
Investigators transported two females from the residence to the Law Enforcement Center for interviews.
Officials reported the death of three task force members at the hospital on Monday night. In a statement, Todd Ishee, North Carolina’s Secretary of Adult Corrections, stated that two of the task force members were 14-year Department of Adult Corrections veterans, Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott. The third wasn’t immediately identifiable.
“They loved their jobs and were deeply committed to protecting our communities,” Ishee said in a statement.
Alden has a wife and one child, while Poloche has a wife and two children.
Authorities reported that Joshua Eyer, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer, suffered severe injuries and ultimately passed away. His wife and three-year-old child survive him.
The shooting injured four more law enforcement officers. Their names have not been disclosed.
“The bravery of our cops who responded to the site, knowing that they would be confronted with gunfire, is something I’ve been repeating for many years in the face of peril.” “Our people step up,” Jennings stated.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper stated on social media that he had spoken with police about the incident and has offered state resources to assist.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, who was visibly distraught, said she had received support from the White House, members of Congress, and state leaders.
“Your father, your husband, your friend, your neighbor… and today they’re not going home,” she went on to say. “You know, three people lost their lives today.”
Jennings stated that in his 30-plus years with the police, he did not recall a day like this.
They quoted him as saying, “To me, it’s the most tragic one that I’ve been involved in.”
President Joe Biden stated in a statement Monday night that the four cops killed were “heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice, rushing into harm’s way to protect us.” We are sorry for them and their families. We also pray for the brave officers who sustained injuries to recover.”
Earlier, Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a statement saying, “The Justice Department is heartbroken by the deaths of three of our own law enforcement colleagues, and we extend our deepest condolences to their loved ones as they grieve this unfathomable loss.”
Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated in a statement Monday night: “The tragic events in Charlotte today are a reminder of the dangers that law enforcement officers face across the country.” We extend our condolences to the families of all federal, state, and local police officers who lost their lives or sustained injuries.
