Charlotte Police chief on officers killed in shootout: 'Most horrific thing I've seen in my career'
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings on the shootout that resulted in four police officers' deaths when a suspect opened fire as U.S. Marshals served a warrant.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings broke down during a Tuesday press conference remembering the four officers who died during a Monday shootout while serving a warrant for a felon in possession of a firearm.
The four fallen officers have been identified as Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks Jr; North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) Officers Sam Poloche and William "Alden" Elliot, who were members of a USMS Fugitive Task Force; and CMPD Officer Joshua Eyer. Four other officers were shot in the line of duty Monday afternoon.
Suspect Terry Clark Hughes Jr., 39, died at the scene Monday after firing at officers from the second floor of his Galway Drive home, on the front and back side, Jennings said Monday.
"[I]t's just been very tough," Jennings told reporters through tears Tuesday when asked about how Monday's shootout was different from others his Department has responded to. "And knowing that you have families that are hurting right now — we'll get through it, though, very rapidly."
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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings wipes away tears as he speaks at a press conference in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, April 30, 2024, regarding the shooting that killed four officers during an attempt to serve a warrant on April 29. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Law enforcement, including 12 CMPD officers returned fire at the house on Galway Drive Monday. It is unclear if the gunshots came from more than one suspect, and police are still working to determine if there was a second shooter and whether any additional charges will be filed.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings speaks at a press conference in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, April 30, 2024, regarding a shooting that killed four officers during an attempt to serve a warrant on April 29. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Authorities recovered an AR-15 rifle, a 40-caliber handgun, magazines and ammunition from the residence.
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"There were just an enormous amount of gunshots and people in our yard and people hiding behind vehicles," a neighbor who wanted to be identified only as Sarah told Fox News Digital. "Firemen hiding behind firetrucks. It was wild."
(L-R) Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks, Investigator William "Alden" Elliott, Police Officer Joshua Eyer and Investigator Samuel "Sam" Poloche were killed in a police shootout in Charlotte, North Carolina on Monday, April 29, 2024. (U.S. Marshals Service via AP/NCDAC/Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department/Sean Rayford via AP/Getty Images)
Hughes had an "extensive" criminal history, Jennings said. North Carolina public records show the suspect had previously been charged with eluding arrest, looting, marijuana possession and manufacturing, driving with an expired registration, driving while impaired and more out of several different counties.
"Our system is not completely is not completely where it needs to be."
"I know this individual did serve a significant amount of time in jail and had been released," Jenning said during the Tuesday press conference. "But I can give you hundreds of examples of people that I feel like should not be out preying upon our citizens, and I've been pretty vocal about that, particularly with juveniles. What I'll say is that our system is not completely is not completely where it needs to be, but … I really think we're overwhelmed. We're overwhelmed in the court system. Our district attorney is overwhelmed with the docket that we see within Charlotte-Mecklenburg, and I don't have an answer for that."
Charlotte residents are shocked after the deaths of three officers following a Monday afternoon shootout. (Charlotte resident)
Jennings added that his department is "focused" on holding people accountable for the crimes they commit in Charlotte.
The scene is still being processed as investigators collect projectiles and casings from what was believed to be more than 100 rounds fired.
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"I was in a state of shock," Sarah, the neighbor, said. "It's really tragic. Those folks go to work every day to protect us, and I don't think there's any time they serve a federal warrant that's just status quo, but I don't think you expect something like this to happen. For their families...it's just crazy."
The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department responds to a shootout on the 5000 block of Galway Drive in east Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday, April, 29, 2024. CMPD says people should stay clear of the 5000 block of Galway Drive, where there is an active investigation. (Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez/The Charlotte Observer/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Two female persons of interest — including one 17-year-old juvenile — who were in the house at the time of the shooting were taken into custody Monday afternoon and are fully cooperating with police.
It is unclear exactly what their relationship to the shooter is, but Jennings said they were in the house voluntarily.
Ronald Davis, Director of the United States Marshals Service, speaks during a press conference in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, April 30, 2024, regarding a shooting that killed four officers during an attempt to serve a warrant on April 29. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
"As more and more comes out about this incident, not only when you see how brave they were," USMS Director Ron Davis said Tuesday. "You will see examples of their courage and bravery. Let there be no mistake. They represent the best of us. They are truly America's finest, and it's just an honor to serve with them."
The case remains an open and active investigation.
"Something went terribly wrong terribly fast."
Terry Mikels, a North Carolina-based private investigator and former officer with the Durham Police Department told Fox News Digital that "for eight people to get shot that quickly, something went terribly wrong terribly fast."
Police urged residents in the 5000 block of Galway Drive to stay inside. (Audrey Conklin/Fox News Digital)
"I worked on U.S. Marshal task force before doing the exact same thing. You may be looking for five guys, then all of a sudden you get a hot lead and your whole team takes off, and that's where you go, but you can't go in without proper preparation," he said. "That's when things go terribly south. Did they have surveillance cameras? Did they see them coming? Could we have floated a drone over the property beforehand? There are so many questions that I have in my mind. It's hard for me to understand."
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Nicole Parker, a Fox News contributor and former FBI agent on the Miami Violent Fugitive Task Force, likened Monday's Charlotte shootout to a February 2, 2021, incident in which two FBI agents were killed while serving a warrant for a child predator. She also noted that the Justice Department changed its use of force policy in 2022.
"Why in the world would you change the law enforcement DOJ deadly force policy on the heels of losing two FBI agents in the line of duty to give agents what we deemed as less protection?" she said. "…Until our country wakes up and shows respect, learns lessons from these tragedies, shares those lessona and makes some changes its going to keep happening. That's why everyone's leaving — law enforcement officers don't feel like anyone has our backs."
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