Four law enforcement officers were tragically killed during a shootout in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday afternoon. The officers have been identified as Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks Jr., Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officer Joshua Eyer, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction officer Sam Poloche, and North Carolina Department of Adult Correction officer William “Alden” Elliott.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks Jr., a 13-year veteran of the U.S. Marshals Service, leaves behind a wife and four children. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officer Joshua Eyer, who served the department for six years, was described as brave and dedicated by CMPD.
Sam Poloche and William “Alden” Elliott, both task force officers assigned to the U.S. Marshals Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force, were also killed in the tragic incident. Poloche joined the NCDAC Special Operations and Intelligence Unit in 2013, while Elliott was a 14-year veteran of the department.
The shooting occurred when a U.S. Marshals Task Force attempted to serve a warrant for firearm possession by a convicted felon. The suspect, 39-year-old Terry Clark Hughes, Jr., opened fire on the officers, resulting in the tragic loss of four lives.
A total of eight law enforcement officers were shot during the incident, with three CMPD officers and a U.S. Marshals Task Force officer still recovering from their injuries. The community of Charlotte is in shock following the devastating loss of these brave officers.
The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction expressed their deepest condolences to the families and friends of the fallen officers, stating that they will be remembered as heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in their service to the state. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with two persons of interest currently being questioned by police.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a reminder of the dangers that law enforcement officers face every day in their commitment to protecting and serving their communities.
