Authorities Identify Officers Killed in Recent Shootout

(ProsperNews.net) – North Carolina authorities have released details about the four law enforcement officers killed in an ambush in Charlotte on April 29. The tragic incident occurred when officers attempted to serve a firearms possession warrant on 39-year-old Terry Clark Hughes and came under heavy gunfire. The suspect ran from a house, still firing, and was shot dead by police.

Thinking the incident was over, officers approached the suspect, who was lying injured on the lawn, only to come under fire once again from inside the residence. A three-hour stand-off ensued, and eight officers were shot before SWAT teams raided the residence and arrested a woman and a 17-year-old. They were not named, and police did not clarify their role in the incident.

Of the eight officers shot, four died, and four were transported to local hospitals with gunshot wounds. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said it was the bloodiest day of his 32-year-career, while Mayor Vi Lyles called the men heroic, saying they had given their lives to protect public safety.

The wounded officers are Christopher Tolley, Michael Giglio, Jack Blowers, and Justin Campbell, who are all expected to recover.

Those who died were all married with children, including US Marshal Thomas M. Weeks, who had served 13 years in the Marshal Service and was the father of four children. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) officer Joshua Eye, who joined CMPD six years ago, died in hospital from gunshot wounds. He was married with one young son.

The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) identified two of its officers as among the dead. Sam Poloche joined the NCDAC Special Operations and Intelligence Unit in 2013, having previously served as parole officer. He had a wife and two children. William “Alden” Elliot, who joined NCDAC in 2016, was shot dead at the scene and leaves behind a wife and one child.

A spokesperson for NCDAC said both men loved their work and were “passionate about their roles in protecting our communities.”