CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Four law enforcement officers, including a deputy U.S. marshal, were killed Monday afternoon while serving a warrant in North Carolina, WSOC-TV reported.
A total of eight officers were shot after the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force attempted to serve a warrant in east Charlotte. Among those shot were task force members, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers and officers with North Carolina’s Department of Adult Correction. The suspected shooter was also found dead following the shooting WSOC reported.
“Today we lost some heroes that are out trying to simply keep our community safe,” Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Chief Johnny Jennings said Monday evening at a news conference. “We don’t have any guarantees that we’ll return home. But yet, we have a lot of great men and women across this entire country that do it every single day to make sure that you’re safe in your communities.”
No other suspects sought in deadly shooting
Update 1 p.m. EDT April 30: Authorities do not believe there are any outstanding suspects related to Monday’s deadly shooting in North Carolina, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said Tuesday.
He confirmed that the suspected gunman, 39-year-old Terry Clark Hughes Jr., was the one being served with a warrant on Monday when gunfire erupted. He was wanted on a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
“We are not looking or ... interested in any additional suspects or any persons of interest,” the chief said Tuesday. “We feel like we have everyone involved that was at the house that we need to speak with.”
[ On WSOCTV.com: Police not looking for any more suspects in deadly officer shootings ]
Among those who police are speaking with are two women who came out of the house where the shooting took place on Monday, Jennings said. He added that they are “fully cooperating with the investigation” and have been interviewed by homicide detectives.
“This is continuing to be an active and ongoing investigation,” Jennings said.
Authorities continued Tuesday to gather evidence from the scene of the shooting. The chief said he expected that more “well over 100 rounds” will be collected from the house. Police have already recovered an AR-15 rifle, a 40-caliber handgun and magazines and ammo for each, he said.
Twelve Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers are believed to have opened fire with their service weapons during Monday’s shooting. They have been placed on administrative leave as authorities investigate the shooting in line with standard procedures, Jennings said.
“This is certainly a tragedy that’s going to impact, I would say our country for a very long time,” the chief added Tuesday. “It’s a scar on Charlotte but a scar that won’t heal. We’re a resilient profession and a resilient city, and we will certainly get through this, but it’s going to take time.”
— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Police identify injured officers; 1 remains hospitalized
Update 12 p.m. EDT April 30: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said Tuesday that three of the four officers injured in Monday’s deadly shooting have been released from the hospital.
The injured officers were identified as Chris Talley, Mike Giglio, Jack Flowers and Joshua Campbell. The chief hailed the four as heroes at a news conference Tuesday.
“We saw ... officers going into the line of fire to save their brothers in blue who had gone down in the act of trying to keep our community safe,” Jennings said. “To me that’s truly heroic — when you hear the gunshots and the rapid fire, and they’re running directly into it because they know that there are people that need help and they risk their own lives to do that.”
Talley, an 18-year veteran of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, underwent surgery on Monday night and remained hospitalized. Jennings said Tuesday that he was in stable condition.
Giglio, who has been with the police department for the past three years, and Flowers, who has spent one year with CMPD, were treated for gunshot wounds and released from the hospital Monday. Campbell, who has been with the police department since 2020, suffered a broken foot and was discharged Monday.
— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Slain US marshal identified
Update 11:45 a.m. EDT April 30: The U.S. Marshals Service on Tuesday identified the deputy U.S. marshal slain in Monday’s shooting as Thomas Weeks Jr., 48.
He was a 13-year veteran of the U.S. Marshals Service and had been assigned to the Western District of North Carolina for the past 10 years. Earlier, he spent eight years working for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
He is survived by a wife and four children.
[ On WSOCTV.com: Officials identify Deputy U.S. Marshal killed in east Charlotte shootout ]
The Mooresville, North Carolina resident was supporting the Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force as they served a warrant on Terry Clark Hughes Jr., 39, on Monday, authorities said. Hughes was wanted on a warrant for possession of a firearm by a felon, officials said.
— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Biden remembers slain officers as ‘heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice’
Update 11:25 a.m. EDT April 30: President Joe Biden shared condolences Tuesday for families who lost loved ones in Monday’s deadly shooting in Charlotte, saying that Americans, including himself and first lady Jill Biden, “are here for you.”
“Yesterday, four brave law enforcement officers — including a Deputy U.S. Marshal — were killed in Charlotte, North Carolina in the line of duty. They are heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice, rushing into harm’s way to protect us,” Biden wrote in a social media post.
“We mourn for them and their loved ones. And we pray for the recoveries of the courageous officers who were wounded.”
— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
More victims identified
Update 7:10 a.m. EDT April 30: Two of the victims of Monday’s deadly shooting have been identified.
Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott were veterans of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, WSOC reported. They were working with the U.S. Marshals serving an arrest warrant when they were shot.
[ On WSOCTV.com: Department of Adult Correction workers killed in Charlotte shootout ]
Both men had worked with the department for 14 years; Poloche joined the agency’s Special Operations and Intelligence Unit in 2013 and Elliott joined in 2016.
“These officers died as heroes and made the ultimate sacrifice in their service to our state,” North Carolina Department of Adult Correction Secretary Todd Ishee said in a statement, according to WSOC. “We remember them, we honor their service, we send our deepest condolences to their families and friends, and we pray for healing for all affected by this tragic incident.”
Poloche left behind a wife and two children. Elliott also left behind a wife and a child.
— Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Officer in ‘very critical’ condition dies
Update 10:35 p.m. EDT April 29: Charlotte Mecklenburg police officials have announced that the CMPD officer left in “very critical” condition following Monday afternoon’s shooting has died.
[ On WSOCTV.com: CMPD mourns recent ‘Officer of the Month’ killed during deadly shootout ]
Officer Joshua Eyer served in the department’s North Tryon Division for six years before his death. He leaves behind his wife, Ashley, and their 3-year-old son, Andrew.
“We will always be indebted to Officer Eyer for his bravery and ultimate sacrifice,” Jennings said in a statement. “His life and service will never be forgotten. Please say a prayer for Officer Eyer’s loved ones during this difficult time.”
The chief indicated that Eyer was named one of the department’s Employees of the Month just a week before he was slain.
Governor releases statement
Update 7:10 p.m. EDT Monday, April 29, 2024: North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper released a statement mourning the slain officers.
Earlier Monday afternoon, Cooper tweeted about the shooting, stating that state law enforcement was poised to help local authorities as needed.
Eight officers shot
Update 6:05 p.m. EDT April 29: A total of eight officers were shot Monday afternoon when the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force attempted to serve a warrant in east Charlotte. According to Jennings, the three slain officers were part of the task force.
Another five officers, including a task force member and four Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers, were wounded in the shooting. One of the injured CMPD officers was in “very critical” condition Monday evening, Jennings said at a news conference.
The other officers were in stable condition and were expected to survive their injuries. Authorities have not said what local agencies the slain task force members belonged to.
Investigators believe two suspects, including the subject of the warrant, fired shots at officers.
Jennings said that task force members were approaching the home, located in the 5000 block of Galway Drive, when they encountered the subject of the warrant, who was being sought on a warrant for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The man shot at the officers as they approached, and they returned fire, the chief said. After the gunman fell, additional shots were fired from inside the home.
The subject of the warrant died in the home’s front yard.
The wounded CMPD officers were shot after responding to the task force’s call for help, Jennings said.
Following a three-hour-long standoff, a woman and a 17-year-old boy were found inside the house, along with a high-powered rifle, The Associated Press reported. Both were taken in for questioning, but it was unclear if either was believed to be the second shooter.
Marshal dies
Update 5:25 p.m. EDT April 29: WSOC-TV in Charlotte reported that sources said one of the marshals wounded in the gunfire had died. CBS News reported that the dead included the marshal and two local officers who were members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.
The network, citing sources, reported that at least six officers were shot in the incident, which took place just before 2 p.m. EDT as the task force attempted to serve a warrant at a home in the 5000 block of Galway Drive in east Charlotte. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, which has kept the public apprised via X, formerly Twitter, reported around 5 p.m. that the home had been cleared and the scene secured.
One of the alleged shooting suspects was found dead inside the house, authorities said. Two other occupants inside the home were being questioned.
Original report: Multiple police officers have been shot in an active shooter situation underway in North Carolina.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department announced the incident on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“The scene is still active. Avoid the area. Many roads are closed for faster ambulance transport. Please cooperate with authorities,” the department said on X.
Authorities said the shooting, which occurred in the 5000 block of Galway Drive, took place as the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force was attempting to serve a warrant.
“Multiple law enforcement officers have been struck by the gunfire and are being transported to the hospital,” another X post read.