Topline
Four law enforcement officers were killed and another four were injured Monday while trying to serve a warrant in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said.
Key Facts
In a statement mourning the deceased officers, the U.S. Marshal’s Service confirmed a deputy US marshal was killed in the incident.
The three other victims were identified as officers from the North Carolina’s Department of Adult Correction who were working with the task force, along with Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Joshua Eyer.
The task force were met with gunfire while trying to serve a warrant for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon at an east Charlotte home, CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings said at a press conference.
The four injured officers are in hospital in stable condition.
One suspect was found dead at the scene after police returned fire and shot the person and two other people were inside the home where officers were trying to serve the warrant, according to Jennings.
After the original suspect was shot and police approached the body, Jennings said they were met with more gunfire—but he would not say which of the two people in custody, if either, were suspects.
What We Don’t Know
The identity of the suspect or two other people in the home. Jennings said the two people taken from the home after the shooting were being questioned.
Crucial Quote
“They knew that they had officers that needed help, that needed to be extracted from that location, yet they went in—some getting shot themselves as a result,” Jennings said in the press conference. “The bravery, the heroism, everything that … defines what our profession is, our people demonstrated that today and I couldn’t be more proud of the response.”
Key Background
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said: “Our hearts are with the families and co-workers of officers in today’s brutal attack.” The White House said President Joe Biden was briefed on the shooting and spoke with Cooper after Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles to express his condolences. In a statement, Biden called the officers “heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice,” and said more must be done to protect them. “That means funding them – so they have the resources they need to do their jobs and keep us safe.” The President once again called on Congressional lawmakers to “ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines” and pass other gun safety measures including “universal background checks and a national red flag law.”
Tangent
Monday’s incident is the first time a member of the U.S. Marshall Service has been killed in the line of duty since November 2018. Deputy U.S. Marshal Chase White was shot while carrying out an arrest of a fugitive in Tucson, Arizona, who had been accused of stalking local law enforcement officers. White would later succumb to his injuries after being taken to a hospital.
