Officials and witnesses claimed Tuesday that four people were killed in a shooting in North Carolina after police officers with an arrest warrant ordered a guy to exit a home. The victims were unable to survive the gunshots fired from inside the home.
Authorities in Charlotte have stated that they are uncertain as to whether or not a second shooter was involved and that additional investigation is necessary in order to ascertain the events surrounding Monday’s shooting, which is the worst attack on U.S. law enforcement personnel since 2016.
Mayor Vi Lyles stated, “Charlotte isn’t going to be the last place that this happens,” but she emphasized that Charlotte will be the site where people can recover, and that this healing process would be carried out with dignity and respect for all.
Terry Clark Hughes Jr., 39, was wanted in Lincoln County, North Carolina, for fugitive from justice and possession of a firearm by an ex-felon. A task team consisting of officers from various agencies had descended onto the suburban community in an attempt to apprehend him.
The victims were named as Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Officer Joshua Eyer, North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections employees Sam Poloche and William Elliott, and an unidentified individual. The gunfight resulted in the deaths of Hughes and four other cops.
At the scene, authorities discovered a 40-caliber handgun, ammunition, and an AR-15 semi-automatic weapon.
The attacker was able to “unload several rounds towards our officers within a matter of seconds,” according to Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, and an AR-15 can penetrate standard body armor.
Although the exact number of bullets fired by the suspect remains unclear, he did state that over a hundred expended shells were discovered. Twelve or more officers also used their firearms.
“The suspect was up at a higher level and they were returning fire from a lower position,” Jennings said, adding that the police were at a disadvantage while trying to seek cover. The gunman was also “shooting from upstairs.”
Since a sniper killed five police officers in Dallas during a protest in 2016, this was the worst day for U.S. law enforcement in one incident.
Hughes has almost ten years of criminal history in North Carolina. State records show that this person has a criminal record that includes jail time and convictions for offenses such as breaking and entering, dangerous driving, evading arrest, and illegally having a firearms.
According to Saing Chhoeun, who lives next door, Hughes was repeatedly asked to vacate the premises. According to him, nobody answered, but then a car alarm went off at the same moment that shots were fired.
As a result, he added, an armored truck was stationed between the house and the injured officers to protect them during the rescue operation. Specialty vehicles tore the house open after a three-hour standoff.
The exact number of bullets fired is unknown to me. However, Chhoeun later told The Associated Press that everything became quiet.
The police chief stated that investigators were not investigating any other suspects and that two females, one of whom was a juvenile, who were present in the house were cooperating and had not been charged.
A second gunman was believed to have opened fire on officers, according to Jennings’ Monday statement. On Tuesday, though, he retreated and claimed the idea was still being investigated.
Prior to fielding questions from media, officials conveyed their deepest condolences for the families of the fallen and injured officers.
Eyer was recently recognized as the officer of the month in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, in part because of his efforts to reduce gun violence. According to Jennings, he was killed while attempting to help others who were being shot at the location.
policemen risked their lives to rescue their fellow policemen who had fallen while protecting the community, according to Jennings. “I find that to be completely heroic.”
The next day, those living near the area of little brick houses voiced their concerns.
“We’ve been here such a long time — you raise your children here — and then all of a sudden you have this tragedy,” Yearly Washington, a 35-year resident, lamented.
It was in November 2018 when the final marshal lost their life while serving. An individual wanted for the stalking of Tucson, Arizona, law officers shot and killed Chase White.
With its headquarters in Charlotte, the Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force coordinates the efforts of seventy different federal, state, and local authorities in their pursuit of criminals.
Visiting Charlotte, Marshals Service Director Ronald Davis said that this was a national tragedy. “To be completely honest, deputies and task force officers are like family to us, so losing one is like losing another.”
