CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A U.S. marshal and three other law enforcement officials never returned home after a shooting in Charlotte on Monday.
Charlotte police held a news conference about the incident at 11 a.m. Tuesday, with remarks from Gov. Roy Cooper, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Attorney General Josh Stein and Ronald Davis, director of the U.S. Marshals Service.
During the briefing, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) Chief Johnny Jennings said correction officers Sam Poloche and William Alden Elliot were killed. They were both 14-year veterans.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Joshua Eyer, a six-year veteran, was critically wounded and later died.
It was also revealed the deputy U.S. marshal who died in the shooting was 48-year-old Thomas M. Weeks. He was a 13-year veteran of the U.S. Marshals Service, serving in the Western District of North Carolina for the last 10 years.
Jennings said three of the four officers injured in the incident have been released from the hospital:
- Jack Blowers suffered from a gunshot wound and was released on Monday. Mike Giglio suffered from a gunshot wound and was released on Monday Justin Campbell broke his foot and was released on Tuesday
The fourth injured officer, Chris Tolley, suffered from a gunshot wound and underwent surgery. He is recovering in the hospital and was described as stable.
“This is certainly a tragedy that’s going to impact, I would say, our country for a very long time,” Jennings said. “It’s a scar on Charlotte, but a scar that won’t heal.”
Investigators are still processing the residence where the shooting happened, Jennings said. They recovered an AR-15 rifle, a 40-caliber handgun, and ammunition and magazines.
The police chief said 12 CMPD officers fired their service weapons, and all were placed under administrative leave. The officers will continue to be investigated as is standard procedure.
Two women who were inside the home during the shooting are cooperating with the investigation. Jennings said they are not looking for additional suspects.
He said this remains an active investigation.
WATCH | U.S. marshal and 3 other law officers killed while serving warrant in Charlotte
In all, 8 members of a U.S. Marshals Task Force were shot in a Charlotte neighborhood Monday.
Things unfolded Monday when a marshal task force attempted to serve a warrant on a convicted felon suspected of possessing illegal firearms in the North Tryon Division.
The convicted felon, who was killed by police, was 39-year-old Terry Hughes Jr.
“I’ve lived here 14 years and nothing like this has happened before,” Franklin Flores Rivera, a neighbor, said. “Unfortunately, it happened today, and hopefully, it never happens again.”
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