What we know: 4 law enforcement officers killed, 4 hurt serving warrant in east Charlotte

Four law enforcement officers were killed and four others were injured Monday when members of a U.S. Marshals Service task force tried to serve a warrant in the Shannon Park area of east Charlotte.

At least one shooting suspect died in the front yard after CMPD cleared the scene, the department said, and two other occupants of the home were being questioned.

Here’s what we know:

U.S. Marshals task force was serving warrant when gunfire started

The U.S. Marshals service and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, made up of multiple agencies, was attempting to serve a warrant in the area when it engaged in gunfire with a subject.

How many law enforcement officers were killed?

Three on the task force and one CMPD officer who responded to the situation were killed. Four others, including three CMPD officers, were shot and injured. CMPD Police Chief Johnny Jennings said it was the worst shooting of law enforcement officers in his memory over more than 30 years with the department.

Who was killed?

Two of the victims were members of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction while the other victim was a U.S. Marshal.

The two victims from the Department of Adult Correction were identified as Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott, 14-year veterans of the department. Poloche leaves behind a wife and two children, and Elliott was married with one child.

The U.S. Marshal service identified Thomas Weeks Jr. as the fourth victim in the shooting. Weeks, 48, was a 13-year veteran of the marshals service, and had been in Charlotte since 2014, according to a written statement from the marshals service. He is survived by his wife and four children.

CMPD announced that Officer Joshua Eyer, who responded to the situation, had succumbed to his injuries and passed away.

Who was the suspect?

The deceased suspect was identified as Terry Clark Hughes, Jr, 39.

Hughes spent time in prison in 2011 and 2013, according to N.C. Department of Public Safety records. In all, Hughes faced 49 criminal charges since 2001, court records show. In Mecklenburg County, he was charged with misdemeanors and felonies in recent years, including felony manufacturing marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to sell or deliver in 2021. The latter charge was dismissed earlier this month, according to court records.

He died in the front yard of a home on the 5000 block of Galway Drive in east Charlotte after being shot by officers.

Were there other suspects?

Two women, one 17 years old, were also in the home “voluntarily” during the shooting, Jennings said Tuesday. Both were taken into custody and are “fully cooperating” with officials, he said.

Neither have been charged with any crimes as of Tuesday morning, according to Jennings, but he didn’t rule out possible charges later.

What weapon was used by the suspect?

Jennings said an AR-15 and .40 caliber handgun were recovered from the home.

How long did the standoff last?

The standoff lasted for approximately three-and-a-half hours, beginning at 1:30 p.m. on Monday.

What happened during the standoff with CMPD?

Hughes fired at officers from multiple positions within the house, Jennings said. That created confusion about how many shooters there were, he said. “That’s part of the investigation we have to sort through, and we will certainly come to a conclusion on that at some point,” he said.

A total of 12 CMPD officers fired their weapons during Monday’s incident and are now on administrative leave in accordance with policy, Jennings said.

Who will conduct the investigation?

CMPD will lead the investigation.

This story was originally published April 29, 2024 at 7:44 PM with the headline "What we know: 4 law enforcement officers killed, 4 hurt serving warrant in east Charlotte."