4 Officers Killed And 4 Others Injured In Shooting

(LibertySociety.com) – Four law enforcement officers are dead after a shootout with a gunman on April 29 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The shocking tragedy occurred as the U.S. Marshals arrived at a home to serve an arrest warrant for a felon illegally in possession of a firearm.

Authorities suspect that two shooters were responsible for the officers’ deaths, as well as injuries to four other officers. Terry Clark Hughes Jr, 39, was identified as the shooter and also confirmed to be the individual who was being served with the warrant. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) also took two others, a woman and an underage boy, to the police station for questioning immediately following the incident. Hughes was killed at the scene after opening fire on the officers, but a second gunman then began shooting.

One of the officers killed was a deputy U.S. Marshal from Mooresville, North Carolina. Two officers from the state’s Department of Adult Correction were killed, along with one officer from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Another U.S. Marshals Task Force officer and three CMPD officers were also shot. Shortly after the shootout began, a SWAT team was sent to the scene, and area residents were told to remain indoors and off the streets so that emergency responders could get through more quickly. At a press conference following the shootout, CMPD Police Chief Johnny Jennings said that it was “the most tragic” incident he had ever witnessed.

The following day, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper ordered all state and United States flags at state offices to half-staff until sunset on May 3. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles called for the community to show respect and honor the lives of the officers, noting that state lawmakers had contacted her to offer condolences. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about the shooting during a daily press briefing, making sure to politicize the tragedy by focusing mostly on so-called “gun violence.” President Biden released a statement offering his condolences without any interjection of politics.