Three out of four law enforcement officers who were killed while attempting to serve a warrant on a convicted felon suspected of possessing illegal firearms in the North Tryon Division in Charlotte have been identified.
Last night, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief, Johnny Jennings, sadly announced the passing of one of their officers, Joshua Eyer. Officer Eyer, who was wounded in the shooting and had been in critical condition at a local hospital, tragically succumbed to his injuries.
Eyer was a dedicated officers with six years of experience, survived by his wife and young son.
The shooting happened at 1:30 p.m. near Galway Drive. Police officials said the U.S. Marshals Task Force which consist of multiple agencies were met with a hail of bullets, prompting a swift response from the officers. The initial shooter was swiftly neutralized in the front yard, but as they closed in, they faced additional gunfire emanating from inside the house.
In the exchange of gunfire, two experienced correction officers, Sam Poloche and Alden Elliot, with 14 years of service, tragically lost their lives. The identity of the fourth victim, a deputy U.S. Marshal, has not been disclosed at this time.
Additionally, four officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department sustained injuries, making a total of eight officers shot, with those tragically killed, included.
The individual who was the initial shooter in the incident, Terry Clark Hughes Jr., aged 39, has been identified. He was being sought for charges in Lincoln County, North Carolina, related to possessing a firearm as a felon and two counts of felony fleeing to elude.
According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Hughes Jr. emerged from the residence carrying a gun, prompting officers to perceive a serious threat and subsequently discharge their weapons, resulting in him being struck in the front yard.
Following a prolonged exchange of fire and a tense standoff, the area was finally declared safe around 5 p.m., with a 17-year-old girl and a woman inside the residence being escorted to the police station for questioning by authorities.
Tyler Wilson, a resident in the vicinity, recounted hearing the commotion unfold, from the loudspeaker announcements to the harrowing sound of gunfire resonating for nearly half an hour. He also mentioned that law enforcement personnel required access to his residence during the chaotic ordeal and used his bedroom for a sniper to use.
“It just kept going and escalating, every window, cops kept coming in,” Wilson told WSOCTV. “They were jumping over our fence, so I let them come through the house. They set up a U.S. marshal sniper in my room.”
During a press briefing on Monday, Chief Jennings stated that they suspect there were two shooters involved. Authorities reported that a “high-powered rifle” was utilized in the attack on the officers.
It is not certain if the 17-year-old and the woman are considered suspects at this time.
Authorities reported that a “high-powered rifle” was utilized in the attack on the officers.
