At least 4 officers were shot and killed in Charlotte, North Carolina Monday while trying to serve a warrant, including a U.S. Marshal and two task force officers.
On April 29, authorities were attempting to serve a warrant on the 5000 block of Galway Drive for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Upon arriving officers were met with gunfire from high powered weapon. Officers then returned fire striking and killing the suspect, 39 year old old Terry Clark Hughes Jr., in the front yard. Four other officers were also struck and sustained non life threatening injuries.
12 Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD have been placed on administrative leave as a standard protocol for an officer involved shooting.
Three members of the U.S. Marshal were killed in the line of fire. Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks,48 is survived by his wife and four children.
Two other officers Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott worked for the state’s Department of Adult Correction. They were both 14 year veterans. Poloche leaves behind a wife and two children. Elliott leaves behind his wife and one child.
One of the fatally wounded officers, Joshua Eyer, was a 6 year veteran and leaves behind his wife and 3 year old son.
One CMPD officer remains hospitalized after undergoing surgery and is in stable condition. Two officers were treated with gunshot wounds and released on Monday, and the fourth officer was treated for a broken foot and discharged Tuesday.
Two women, including a 17 year old, were brought outside of the home after police secured the scene. The women were taken to the Charlotte Law Enforcement Center to be interviewed by detectives.
Police Chief Johnny Jennings said in a statement “We are very early in the investigation,” Jennings said Monday. “CMPD will lead this investigation, we still have a lot to uncover, a lot of questions that are not answered right now.”
