On April 29, 2024, multiple police officers were involved in a shootout in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States while serving active felony warrants on 39-year-old Terry Clark Hughes Jr., resulting in the deaths of three members of a U.S. Marshal task force and one local police officer. Police allege that Hughes initiated the event by firing on the officers as they approached his residence. After the police began returning fire, additional gunfire came from inside the residence, which officers say may have come from Hughes firing more shots while down before succumbing at the scene.[4]
Events
At approximately 1:50 p.m. EDT (UTC−04:00), a U.S. Marshals Service task force arrived at 5525 Galway Drive to serve a warrant on Hughes. After Hughes opened fire on the officers with a rifle,[5] officers called for backup and began to return fire. Additional fire came from inside the residence as officers continued to approach. Hughes and three members of the task force died on the scene, and one Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) officer later died from his injuries. Four more law enforcement officers were injured.[2][5][6]
After the attack, police recovered a .40-caliber handgun and an AR-15–style rifle. Ammunition was also found for both weapons.[7]
Perpetrator
Hughes was born in Danville, Virginia and was raised in Roxboro, North Carolina.[8] He was wanted on multiple warrants, including for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in Lincolnton.[4] Hughes had a criminal record dating back as early as his conviction of a Person County robbery in September 2009 and was once previously arrested for reckless driving and speeding as the result of a high-speed pursuit that ended with a crash on I-40/85 near Haw River in June 2012.[9] At first, police believed there were two shooters, but on April 30, CMPD chief Johnny Jennings announced police were not seeking additional suspects.[6] On May 31, police officially confirmed that Hughes was the only shooter.[10]
Following the shootout, police initiated negotiations with the individuals inside the house. Two women came outside afterward and were taken in by police for questioning.[4] Jennings said both suspects are cooperating with police, but no charges were filed[update].[6]
Law enforcement fatalities
Memorial service for Thomas Weeks, one of the four law enforcement officers killed
The victims included a deputy U.S. marshal, two officers with the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, and one CMPD officer. Four others were wounded as a result of the shootout. Sam Poloche, William "Alden" Elliot, and Thomas Weeks Jr. died at the scene, and Joshua Eyer was initially in critical condition but died in the hospital several hours later.[2][4][5][6][11]
Three of the wounded officers were CMPD officers and the fourth was a Statesville Police Department officer. Another CMPD officer was not shot but broke his foot during the shootout.[6]
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