4 law enforcement officers killed, 4 injured trying to serve felony warrant

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) - Authorities provided new details Tuesday morning in the deadly shooting that left four law enforcement officers dead and another four injured Monday in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The shooting started after members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force approached a home and tried to serve felony warrants for Terry Clark Hughes Jr., 39, at a home on Galway Drive. At the time, Hughes had warrants out from Lincoln County for possession of a firearm by a felon and two felony counts of fleeing to elude.

As task force members approached, Hughes began to shoot and hit multiple officers, police said.

Hughes was killed in the shootout when officers returned fire, according to authorities.

Multiple law enforcement vehicles respond in the neighborhood where several officers on a task... — Multiple law enforcement vehicles respond in the neighborhood where several officers on a task force trying to serve a warrant were shot in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 29, 2024. (Khadejeh Nikouyeh/The Charlotte Observer via AP)(AP)

Authorities said SWAT then began negotiating with the other people inside of the home.

After the three-hour standoff, the home was torn open. Armored vehicles smashed into it, ripping off windows and entire doorways that were left broken. Several armored vehicles were parked across yards, some with tree branches dangling off them, according to The Associated Press.

A woman and girl inside the home, were taken into custody for questioning.

Authorities said they are not looking into additional suspects or persons of interest.

More than 100 shell casings will be collected, according to Chief Johnny Jennings. At the scene, authorities recovered an AR-15 and 40-caliber handgun, along with additional magazines for both guns.

Authorities said 12 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers fired their service weapons and are on administrative leave while an investigation is underway.

Joshua Eyer, Samuel Poloche, William Elliot and Thomas Weeks were fatally shot in Charlotte... — Joshua Eyer, Samuel Poloche, William Elliot and Thomas Weeks were fatally shot in Charlotte trying to serve a felony warrant.(CMPD via X)

In total, eight officers were hit including four members of the task force, which was made up of officers from multiple agencies, and four Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers.

The four law enforcement officers killed in the shooting were identified as William “Alden” Elliott, Samuel “Sam” Poloche, Thomas Weeks Jr., and Joshua Eyer.

Poloche and Elliott were North Carolina Department of Adult Correction veterans, Eyer served with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and Weeks was a Deputy U.S. Marshal.

Two of the officers who were shot have been released and a third underwent surgery Monday but is in stable condition. One officer is being treated for a broken foot.

“Yesterday, eight families had to be told that their loved one had been shot in the line of duty. It was news that they hoped would never come,” North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said during Tuesday’s press conference.

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