Three of the four law enforcement officers who were killed in a shootout in Charlotte on Monday have been identified, as well as the suspect killed.
The officers were killed while serving a warrant outside a home. Other officers were wounded when a second shooter began firing on them after the wanted man had been killed.
Three of the killed officers were members of a task force. The U.S. Marshals Service confirmed an agent was killed, but their identity has not been released. The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction identified 14-year veterans Sam Poloche and Alden Elliot as the other two officers killed at the scene.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Joshua Eyer died a few hours later at the hospital, chief Jonny Jennings said.
“He certainly gave his life and dedicated his life to protecting our citizens,” Jennings said at a news conference.
Another member of the task force and three other Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers were wounded.
The suspect who was killed was identified as Terry Clark Hughes Jr., 39. He was wanted for possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of felony flee to elude in Lincoln County, N.C.
After a three-hour standoff, an armored vehicle crashed into the house and two additional female suspects were taken into custody. A high-powered rifle was found inside the house, Jennings.
No additional information about the shooting was released.
“A lot of the questions that need to be answered, we don’t even know what those questions are now,” Jennings said. “We have to get a full understanding of why this occurred and also uphold the integrity of the investigation.”
