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
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.
WATCH: CMPD updates on Charlotte police shooting, identifies victims
White House mourns ‘heroes’ lost in Charlotte shooting
Earlier today, four brave law enforcement officers – including a Deputy U.S. Marshal – were killed in the line of duty. They are heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice, rushing into harm’s way to protect us. We mourn for them and their loved ones. And we pray for the recoveries of the courageous officers who were wounded.
When a law enforcement officer puts on that shield in the morning and heads out the door, their family members dread the phone call – the very call that came today. It’s like losing a piece of your soul.
To the families of those we lost: Jill and I, and all Americans, are here for you. And we will always be here for you. We must do more to protect our law enforcement officers. That means funding them – so they have the resources they need to do their jobs and keep us safe.
And it means taking additional action to combat the scourge of gun violence. Now. Leaders in Congress need to step up so that we ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require safe storage of guns, and pass universal background checks and a national red flag law. Enough is enough. May God Bless these fallen heroes.
Who are the injured officers?
- Chris Tolley, a CMPD officer, underwent surgery and is now in stable condidtion
- Mike Giglio, a CMPD officer, suffered gunshot wound injuries and was released yesterday
- Jack Blowers, a CMPD officer, suffered gunshot wound injuries and was released yesterday
- Joshua Campbell, a CMPD officer, who not shot but suffered a broken foot and was discharged this morning
In photos: the aftermath of the Charlotte shooting
A look at the suspect’s rap sheet
Prior to the fierce shootout in Charlotte, North Carolina – in which four law enforcement officers were killed and several others wounded – police had been attempting to serve felony warrants on 39-year-old Terry Clark Hughes Jr.
Hughes – who also died in the shootout – had been arrested dozens of times, with almost 50 cases listed online, including charges relating to drug manufacture, firearm possession and aggravated assault.
The charges against him stretch back over 20 years and across multiple counties in North Carolina, with one listed against him as far back as 2001 over communicating threats — against his own father, Terry Clark Hughes Sr.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CPMD) chief Johnny Jennings said that Hughes Jr had previously spent a “significant amount of time” behind bars.
CPMD said that at the time of Monday’s incident, Hughes was wanted for possession of a firearm by felon and felony flee to elude out of Lincoln County, North Carolina.
On 24 April, he had failed to appear in court related to charges of possession of firearm by felon and marijuana possession, according to the department.
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Charlotte shooting suspect had a 20-year rap sheet
WATCH: North Carolina shootout which killed four police officers filmed by neighbour hiding in home
President Biden planning to meet family members of slain officers
President Joe Biden is expected to travel to North Carolina on Thursday to meet with the family members of four officers killed earlier in Monday’s incident — the deadliest attack on law enforcement since 2016.
GoFundMe Page for families of injured and killed officers tops $100k
As of Wednesday morning, the GoFundMe page has raised more than $113,000 which has vowed to “provide support for those affected, offering a beacon of hope amidst the darkness of this tragedy.”
“As the community reels from this senseless act of violence, thoughts and prayers pour out for the wounded officers and their families,” the fundraiser says.
“As the investigation unfolds and the names of the fallen are confirmed, the community stands together in solidarity, determined to honor the bravery of those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty,” it continued.
You can find find the fundraiser here.
WATCH: North Carolina shootout which killed four police officers filmed by neighbour hiding in home
The timeline
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.