Charlotte shooting: President Biden plans to visit family members of slain officers
Officers were shot at as they served a fugitive arrest warrant to Terry Clark Hughes Jr at a house in North Carolina
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New details have emerged around a police encounter with the suspect —months before the shoot-out in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday that left four law enforcement officers dead.
Back in January, Terry Clark Hughes Jr, 39, led officers on a high-speed chase, according to Lincoln County Sheriff Bill Beam. One of his officers tried to pull over Hughes. But rather than slowing down, he “took off,” the sheriff told WCNC.
The car chase was ultimately called off when a police officer noticed the Hughes’ vehicle was registered to a woman.
Four months later, Hughes opened fire on officers as they approached his home on April 29 trying to serve him warrants. He was wanted for possession of a firearm by felon and felony flee to elude.
Hughes was fatally shot during the exchange.
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.
Four officers were killed in the tragedy: North Carolina Department of Adult Correction’s Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott, Deputy US Marshal Thomas Weeks and CMPD officer Joshua Eyer.
Of the four officers injured, three have been discharged from the hospital while the fourth is in stable condition.
Law enforcement officers killed by gunfire
So far in 2024, 21 police officers have died due to gunfire, according to the National Gun Violence Archive.
Monday’s incident was one of the deadliest officer-involved shootings in recent history.
CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings explained at a Tuesday press conference that the armor used was inadquate against AR-15 rifles, which was one of the weapons recovered from the suburban Charlotte home: “traditional body armor for police officers cannot withstand a rifle round.”
He added, “officers were at a disadvantage because the individual” was at an elevated level.
Although police have said they are still constructing an exact timeline of the events leading up to and after the Charlotte shooting, here is what we know so far:
Monday, April 29:
Around 1.30pm: Law enforcement officers approached the home on Galway Drive attempting to serve active felony warrants.
- Shots were fired as officers neared the home. “There’s indication that the suspect saw them coming to the house prior to them getting to the front door,” CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings said at Tuesday’s press conference.
- Gunfire was coming from an “elevated position” inside the home, CMPD has said.
- As officers were rendering aid to colleagues who had been struck, more gunfire erupted.
At some point, the suspect exited the residence on Galway Drive with a firearm, police said.
- After perceiving an “imminent deadly threat,” officers shot Hughes, in the front yard of the home, killing him.
The CMPD’s SWAT began negotiations with other occupants in the house, police said.
- A 17-year-old girl and another woman then exited the home and were transported interviewed by detectives. They have been fully cooperative and are not considered suspects, Chief Jennings said.
In total, eight officers were shot, and were all transported to local hospitals for treatment.
- Three officers were pronounced dead at the hospital. They were identified as Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott, both of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, and Thomas Weeks, a deputy US Marshal.
- After around 9.30pm, CMPD announced that one of its officers — Joshua Eyer — had succumbed to his injuries.
Overnight: Police processed the crime scene.
- Investigators recovered two firearms —an AR – 15 rifle and 40-caliber handgun — as well as additional magazines and ammunition for both firearms.
Tuesday, April 30:
At a 11am press conference, Chief Jennings revealed the identities of the four injuried officers: CMPD Officers Chris Tolley, Mike Giglio, Jack Blowers and
Joshua Campbell. Only Mr Tolley remained in the hospital, in stable condition, while the other three had been discharged.
Chief Jennings reiterated that police are “not looking or interested in any additional suspects or any persons of interest.”
However, he added that investigators are not yet ruling out the possibility that a second shooter was firing from the home.
WATCH: North Carolina shootout which killed four police officers filmed by neighbor hiding in home
Attorney General Merrick Garland remarks on Charlotte shooting
“Every single day, Deputy U.S. Marshals and Task Force Officers put their lives on the line to apprehend some of our country’s most dangerous criminals. Today, three of those dedicated public servants made the ultimate sacrifice. Multiple other officers were critically injured while carrying out this operation to protect their community.
“The Justice Department is heartbroken by the deaths of three of our own law enforcement colleagues, and we extend our deepest condolences to their loved ones as they grieve this unfathomable loss.”
Who were the involved officers?
Four officers were killed in the shooting. They have been dubbed “heroes” by their superiors.
Three of the officers killed were members of the US Marshal Fugitive Task Force: Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott of the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections and Thomas Weeks, a deputy US Marshal.
A fourth victim, Joshua Eyer, was an officer with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Four other officers were injured, all CMPD officers.
Officer Chris Tolley underwent surgery and on Tuesday morning was in stable condition.
Officers Mike Giglio and Jack Blowers suffered from gunshot wounds. Both were released from hospital on Monday.
Officer Joshua Campbell was not shot, but sustained a broken foot. He was discharged from hospital on Tuesday morning.
Chief Jennings said that the “officers were at a disadvantage because” the shooter fired from an elevated level. On top of this, he noted that their body armor “cannot withstand a rifle round.”
On Tuesday, Governor Roy Cooper said: “North Carolina lost four heroes and saw four other heroes wounded.”
“We are grateful for their bravery and courage,” he added.
ICYMI: Rap sheet of the suspect, revealed
Terry Clark Hughes Jr, 39, who also died in the Monday shootout. Prior to that, records show he had been arrested dozens of times, with almost 50 cases listed online, including charges relating to drug manufacture, firearm possession and aggravated assault.
In April 2010 he was arrested for aggravated assault against a female in Charlotte. That same year he was convicted of breaking and entering in Person County, north of Raleigh-Durham, and spent approximately six months in prison before being released in May 2011.
One year prior in 2009, he had been charged with the same offence as well as possessing a stolen firearm.
In 2006 Hughes was twice charged with carrying a concealed gun and jailed again later that year in December on further charges of weapons law violations.
In his final act on Monday he is suspected of killing four law enforcement officers, before being gunned down by police as he attempted to exit a residence on Galway Drive, in Charlotte.
Shots were fired from overhead, as he was apparently shooting from the second floor of his home, CMPD said.
“Preliminary information indicates that the suspect was firing from an elevated position inside the residence while ambushing officers making it extremely difficult for officers to seek cover,” the force wrote on X.
CMPD added that two females who were inside the residence were brought in to be interviewed by detectives and were cooperating with the ongoing investigation. “At this time, there are no additional suspects or persons of interest,” the department said.
Charlotte shooting suspect had a 20-year rap sheet
Terry Clark Hughes Jr was killed in a shootout with police in Charlotte on Monday, which also claimed the lives of four law enforcement officers
Rough timeline of the shooting
Although police have said they are still constructing an exact timeline of the events leading up to and after the Charlotte shooting, here is what we know so far:
Monday, April 29:
Around 1.30pm: Law enforcement officers approached the home on Galway Drive attempting to serve active felony warrants.
- Shots were fired as officers neared the home. “There’s indication that the suspect saw them coming to the house prior to them getting to the front door,” CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings said at Tuesday’s press conference.
- Gunfire was coming from an “elevated position” inside the home, CMPD has said.
- As officers were rendering aid to colleagues who had been struck, more gunfire erupted.
At some point, the suspect exited the residence on Galway Drive with a firearm, police said.
- After perceiving an “imminent deadly threat,” officers shot Hughes, in the front yard of the home, killing him.
The CMPD’s SWAT began negotiations with other occupants in the house, police said.
- A 17-year-old girl and another woman then exited the home and were transported interviewed by detectives. They have been fully cooperative and are not considered suspects, Chief Jennings said.
In total, eight officers were shot, and were all transported to local hospitals for treatment.
- Three officers were pronounced dead at the hospital. They were identified as Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott, both of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, and Thomas Weeks, a deputy US Marshal.
- After around 9.30pm, CMPD announced that one of its officers — Joshua Eyer — had succumbed to his injuries.
Overnight: Police processed the crime scene.
- Investigators recovered two firearms —an AR – 15 rifle and 40-caliber handgun — as well as additional magazines and ammunition for both firearms.
Tuesday, April 30:
At a 11am press conference, Chief Jennings revealed the identities of the four injuried officers: CMPD Officers Chris Tolley, Mike Giglio, Jack Blowers and
Joshua Campbell. Only Mr Tolley remained in the hospital, in stable condition, while the other three had been discharged.
Chief Jennings reiterated that police are “not looking or interested in any additional suspects or any persons of interest.”
- However, he added that investigators are not yet ruling out the possibility that a second shooter was firing from the home.
Who was the suspect?
Hughes was 39 years old, five-foot-nine, and 180 pounds. Officers had been attempting to serve felony warrants on him on Monday.
North Carolina criminal records show he has an extensive rap sheet with many drug-related charges.
Hughes also faced charges of aggravated assault against a female in 2010; multiple counts of possession of firearm by felon; multiple counts of fleeing to elude arrest; reckless driving to endanger as well as communicating threats — a charge brought by his father.
Hughes was previously convicted of weapon law violations and breaking and entering.
When asked on Tuesday whether someone like Hughes should have been allowed to be on the streets, Chief Jennings said that he had spent “a significant amount of time in jail and had been released.”
That being said, the chief added: “I can give you hundreds of examples of people that I feel like should not be out praying upon his citizens…our system is not completely where it needs to be.”
ICYMI: 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.
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