CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Four law enforcement officers are dead following a shooting in East Charlotte on Monday. We know now the names of all four victims:
- Sam Poloche
- William 'Alden' Elliott
- Joshua Eyer
- Thomas Weeks
Here are the latest details from Tuesday's press conference:
Three of the four officers who were injured have been released from the hospital. Police said three of those officers were shot and one had a broken foot. The remaining officer in the hospital is in stable condition, officials said.
All four officers who died in the line of duty have been identified - Sam Poloche, Alden Elliott, Thomas Weeks, and Joshua Eyer.
- An AR-15 rifle, and a .40 caliber handgun were recovered from the home.
- CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings said he’s not sure if there was more than one shooter; he’s looking at body camera footage to see if the initial timeline adds up to substantiate reports that the officers took fire after the suspect was down.
- Two females who were inside the home are cooperating with the investigation, police say. One of them was a juvenile. Police said they were in the home voluntarily but did not disclose the connection to the suspect, citing the investigation. Right now, they have not been charged with anything.
- Twelve CMPD officers fired their weapons and have been placed on administrative leave.
- CMPD's chief said they believe the suspect saw the officers coming before they got to the front door, and that the officers were met with gunfire immediately.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department lost one of their very own: Officer Joshua Eyer.
Eyer has been with the department for 6 years and was a member of the 178th Recruit Class.
"We are forever indebted to Officer Eyer for his bravery and ultimate sacrifice. His life and service never be forgotten," the department wrote in a statement.
Two 14-year NC Department of Adult Correction veterans, Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott were killed in the shooting. Both were task force officers assigned to the U.S. Marshals Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force.
The North Carolina Department of Corrections said Poloche joined the NCDAC Special Operations and Intelligence Unit in 2013. Alden Elliott followed in 2016, each after serving several years as a probation/parole officer.
"They loved their work and were passionate about their roles in protecting our communities. Sam leaves behind a wife and two children, and Alden and his wife are parents to one child," Todd Ishee, NC Secretary of Adult Correction, said in a statement.
These officers died as heroes and made the ultimate sacrifice in their service to our state. We remember them, honor their service, send our deepest condolences to their families and friends, and pray for healing for all affected by this tragic incident.
According to the Charlotte CBS affiliate, WBTV, Charlotte police identified the suspect as Terry Clark Hughes, 39, and he was wanted for possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of felony to elude out of Lincoln County.
Here's what happened:
Three US Marshal officers and a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer are dead after a shooting rampage at an East Charlotte home Monday afternoon.
At least four Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officers were also injured, according to the CMPD police chief.
In total, seven officers were shot in the incident, one sustained a broken foot but was never hit by gunfire, according to officials during Tuesday's presser.
A suspect is dead, and two persons of interest are in police custody for questioning, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
It happened on Galway Drive, near Julian Underwood Park and not far from the intersection of The Plaza and Milton Road. Police said US Marshals went to a home to serve a warrant for the possession of a firearm by a felon charge and were met with "active gunfire" from a high-powered rifle, prompting officers to return fire.
Police struck one suspect, which killed them, on the front lawn of the home.
State leaders' reaction:
Procession for CMPD Officer Joshua Eyer:
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