New details emerge after 4 law enforcement officers killed in shooting in Charlotte, North Carolina
New details emerged a day after police said four law enforcement officers were killed and four others were wounded in a shooting in Charlotte, North Carolina, while trying to serve a warrant Monday afternoon. A suspect was killed in a shootout with police, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said.
A U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force comprised of officers from multiple agencies was attempting to serve an arrest warrant on a man for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in east Charlotte when the shooting started, Jennings said, He called the shooting "an absolute tragic day for the city of Charlotte and for the profession of law enforcement."
When officers approached a house to arrest the suspect, they were immediately met with gunfire and they returned fire, Jennings said.
"There's indication that the suspect saw them coming to the house prior to them getting to the front door," Jennings said during a news conference Tuesday.
Police said the officers called for backup and they continued to exchange fire with the suspect. More gunfire came from inside the house as officers approached the suspect, setting off a long standoff, Jennings said.
The man then left the house while armed, police said, and officers opened fire and shot him in the front yard, where he was pronounced dead. He was identified by police as Terry Clark Hughes Jr., 39.
Jennings said the suspect used an AR-15-style rifle and a .40-caliber handgun and had additional ammunition for both guns. Police were looking into how he acquired the guns.
When the standoff was over, a female and a 17-year-old were found inside the house and were brought to a police station as persons of interest, Jennings said. A later statement said both individuals were female and that they had exited the home following negotiations with a SWAT team.
Investigators were trying to determine what happened inside the residence. Police initially believed there were two shooters involved in the incident, including the individual killed in the initial shootout, but Jennings said Tuesday he's not ready to say there was a second shooter. The two persons of interest are fully cooperating with the investigation and haven't been charged, he said.
The suspect was shooting at the officers from the upstairs of the house, Jennings said.
"Even though our officers were trying to take cover, they were at a disadvantage because the suspect was up at a higher level and they were trying to return fire from a lower position to an elevated position," the police chief said.
The suspect may have also fired at the officers after he was shot outside the house, Jennings said.
Eight officers in total were shot, Jennings said.
The Marshals Service identified the deputy U.S. marshal who was killed in the shooting as Thomas Weeks Jr., 48. He is survived by a wife and four children, the agency said in a statement Tuesday.
Two other slain law enforcement officers, identified as Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott, were from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction assigned to the task force. Both were 14-year veterans of the department, North Carolina Secretary of Adult Correction Todd Ishee said in a statement.
Poloche is survived by a wife and two adult children. Elliott leaves behind a wife and one child, the statement said.
"These officers died as heroes and made the ultimate sacrifice in their service to our state," Ishee said. "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."
Polche's wife, Cielo Poloche, told CBS News her husband was "passionate about his work and he was passionate about helping people and protecting people and being part of his team." The two had been married for 22 years, she said.
The fourth officer killed was Joshua Eyer, a member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the department said Monday night.
Eyer, who had been with the department for six years, "fought for his life for several hours before succumbing to his injuries," the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said in a statement. Ayer is survived by a wife and 3-year-old son, Jennings said Monday night.
Three other Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers who responded to the shooting were shot, Jennings said. They were identified as Christopher Tolley, Michael Giglio and Jack Blowers. Tolley underwent surgery and remains hospitalized in stable condition, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said in a news release. Giglio and Blowers were treated and released.
The other wounded officer was identified Tuesday by the Statesville Police Department as Statesville police Cpl. Casey Hoover, who was also a member of the task force. Hoover suffered a gunshot wound to an area of his upper torso that was unprotected by his bulletproof vest, Statesville police said in a news release. He underwent surgery and is stable and expected to make a full recovery, police said.
Statesville is part of the Charlotte metro area.
A fifth Charlotte-Mecklenburg officer, Justin Campbell, sustained a broken foot during the incident, police said. He was also treated and released from an area hospital.
Jennings earlier said that all of the officers are expected to make a full recovery.
"Unfortunately today was something tragic that we never want to see," Jennings said.
Meanwhile, Lincoln County Sheriff Bill Beam clarified Tuesday evening that a Lincoln County detective was not wounded in the incident, as had been initially reported.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said on social media, "Our hearts are with the families and co-workers of officers in today's brutal attack, including two state Department of Adult Correction officers working with the US Marshal's Task Force who were shot and killed."
President Biden spoke with Cooper and "expressed his condolences and support for the community," the White House said in a statement.
In a later statement, Mr. Biden called the officers "heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice, rushing into harm's way to protect us. We mourn for them and their loved ones. And we pray for the recoveries of the courageous officers who were wounded."
Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement, "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."
Tyler Wilson told CBS affiliate WBTV he was working at home when he heard officers calling for someone to come out of a neighboring house.
"After that, it was just chaos," Wilson told the station. "There was shots ringing left and right. We had SWAT and U.S. marshals set up snipers in our bedrooms. There was a officer got drug by his arms through our house. I don't know if he was shot or if he injured himself. It's been pretty crazy. It was about 30 minutes where it was a straight shootout."
Video posted to social media appeared to show over a dozen police cruisers and two officers running at the scene.