CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Authorities in North Carolina’s largest city provided an update on the investigation into the tragic shooting incident that resulted in the deaths of four law enforcement officers a month ago. According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Deputy Police Chief Tonya Arrington, it has been determined that the shooter acted alone and was solely responsible for all casualties. There was no evidence of friendly fire involved in the incident.
The shooting, which took place on April 29 in a residential neighborhood, also left four other officers wounded, marking it as the deadliest attack on law enforcement officers since 2016. President Joe Biden visited Charlotte to meet with the families of the fallen officers in a show of solidarity and support. The incident occurred when officers from a U.S. Marshals Task Force attempted to serve warrants to a suspect in a home.
The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Terry Clark Hughes Jr., was wanted for possession of a firearm by an ex-felon and fleeing from authorities. He was located in the home and engaged in a shootout with officers for over 17 minutes. Despite initial confusion indicating there might have been a second shooter, the investigation revealed that Hughes was the sole perpetrator. He was armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and a handgun, which he did not use during the encounter.
During the confrontation, officers faced significant danger and had to engage in suppressive gunfire to evacuate the wounded officers. Despite the chaos, Arrington emphasized that all evidence pointed to only one shooter being involved in the incident. The investigation included a thorough examination of various forms of evidence, including video footage from body-worn cameras and extensive interviews with law enforcement personnel.
The tragic loss of officers Sam Poloche, William Elliott, Joshua Eyer, and Thomas Weeks sent shockwaves through the local law enforcement community. Charlotte Police Chief Johnny Jennings acknowledged the profound impact of the incident on the department, describing it as one of the darkest moments in their history. As officers continue to cope with the aftermath, Jennings highlighted the resilience and dedication of the department in continuing their work to serve and protect the community.