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Shocking video has emerged of the shoot-out in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday that left four law enforcement officers dead.
Terry Clark Hughes Jr, 39, opened fire on officers as they approached his home on Monday trying to serve him warrants. He was wanted for possession of a firearm by felon and felony flee to elude out of Lincoln County, North Carolina.
Hughes was fatally shot during the exchange.
Footage filmed by a resident showed two officers lying on the ground behind a car in a garage. Multiple loud gunshots can be heard. One of the officers then yells at the person filming to get back inside the house.
Two other people later found in the home where Hughes was firing from “are fully cooperating” with the investigation and are not considered suspects, CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings said.
Three of the slain officers were members of the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force: North Carolina Department of Adult Correction’s Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott and Deputy US Marshal Thomas Weeks. CMPD officer and six-year veteran Joshua Eyer was also killed in the tragedy.
Of the four officers injured, three have been discharged from the hospital while the fourth is in stable condition.
What happened?
Law enforcement officers arrived at a home in the 5000 block of Galway Drive around 1.30pm on 29 April to serve a warrant when all hell broke loose, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said at a Tuesday press conference.
The US Marshals Fugitive Task Force, composed of officers from 16 agencies across the state, were serving a 39-year-old Terry Clark Hughes Jr, a convicted felon with an extensive criminal record.
Hughes was wanted for possession of a firearm by felon, and felony flee to elude out of Lincoln County, North Carolina.
When officers approached the home, shots were fired from an “elevated level” inside, the police chief said. The shooter was “ambushing” officers, making it hard for law enforcement officials to take cover, he added.
At some point, Hughes Jr exited his home, armed with a firearm. The officers “perceived an imminent deadly threat” and fired at Hughes in his front yard, killing him.
In total, eight officers were hit by gunshots.
Four were killed and four others have survived their injuries. Three of the fallen officers were members of the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force while one was a CMPD officer.
Read the full story…
GoFundMe page surpasses $50,000
A GoFundMe campaign was launched after eight officers were caught in a devastating incident on Monday.
Four were killed and four others were injured.
The fundraiser aims to “provide support for those affected, offering a beacon of hope amidst the darkness of this tragedy.”
Donations have flooded in. Just a day after the tragedy, it has garnered more than $58,000.
“As the community reels from this senseless act of violence, thoughts and prayers pour out for the wounded officers and their families,” the fundraiser says.
“As the investigation unfolds and the names of the fallen are confirmed, the community stands together in solidarity, determined to honor the bravery of those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.”
What we know about the two others inside the home
“Two females that were inside the residence were brought in to be interviewed by detectives,” CMPD wrote on X.
Chief Jennings said at Tuesday’s press conference that one was 17 years old and the other was “a little older.” He declined to comment on their relationship to Terry Clark Hughes Jr, who was fatally shot yesterday.
The police chief said authorities weren’t ruling out possibility of arrest, but confirmed they have not been charged with any crime.
He also said that there is a possibility that there was a “second shooter” in the home.
That theory seems to have emerged because Hughes was shooting from upstairs, but shots were fired “down at the officers both front and back,” potentially indicating that there was more than one shooter.
Who are the injured officers?
- Chris Tolley, a CMPD officer, underwent surgery and is now in stable condidtion
- Mike Giglio, a CMPD officer, suffered gunshot wound injuries and was released yesterday
- Jack Blowers, a CMPD officer, suffered gunshot wound injuries and was released yesterday
- Joshua Campbell, a CMPD officer, who not shot but suffered a broken foot and was discharged this morning
Suspect had a 20-year rap sheet including drug, assault and weapons charges
Prior to the fierce shootout in Charlotte, North Carolina – in which four law enforcement officers were killed and several others wounded – police had been attempting to serve felony warrants on 39-year-old Terry Clark Hughes Jr.
Hughes – who also died in the shootout – had been arrested dozens of times, with almost 50 cases listed online, including charges relating to drug manufacture, firearm possession and aggravated assault.
The charges against him stretch back over 20 years and across multiple counties in North Carolina, with one listed against him as far back as 2001 over communicating threats — against his own father, Terry Clark Hughes Sr.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CPMD) chief Johnny Jennings said that Hughes Jr had previously spent a “significant amount of time” behind bars.
CPMD said that at the time of Monday’s incident, Hughes was wanted for possession of a firearm by felon and felony flee to elude out of Lincoln County, North Carolina.
On 24 April, he had failed to appear in court related to charges of possession of firearm by felon and marijuana possession, according to the department.
Read the full story…
Where did Hughes get the guns?
CMPD Chief Jennings said at Tuesday’s press conference that investigators are looking into how the suspected shooter acquired the firearms.
An AR-15 rifle and a 40-calibre handgun — along with additional magazines and ammunition for both weapons — were recovered from the home.
An internal law enforcement officers are reportedly looking for the person who bought the firearm used in the shooting to potentially bring federal charges, according to a memo obtained by CNN.
Gun safety groups condemn Monday’s shooting
WATCH: CMPD updates on Charlotte police shooting, identifies victims
One of the deadliest days for law enforcement
The Fratneral Order of Police report from April 1 shows that 98 officers shot in the line of duty so far in 2024.
Of those officers shot, 10 of them were killed.
The New York Times called Monday’s incident one of the deadliest attacks on law enforcement in recent years.
In photos: the Charlotte shooting
Source: independent.co.uk
