Local and state authorities on Tuesday identified all of the officers injured or killed in Monday’s attack. fatal shooting in east Charlotte and shared some new details about the incident.
Gov. Roy Cooper, Attorney General Josh Stein and officials from the U.S. Marshals Service spoke during a news conference at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center alongside Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings and Mayor Vi Lyles.
Identified employees Thomas “Tommy” Weeks as the dead deputy marshal Monday when a task force was shot while trying to serve a warrant at a home on Galway Drive in the Shannon Park neighborhood. Weeks was a 13-year veteran of the marshals service. He has worked in the Western District of North Carolina for the past 10 years.
He is survived by his wife and four children.
Authorities previously identified CMPD Officer Joshua Eyer, as well as Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott of the Department of Adult Correction, as the other officers killed in the shooting.
CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings on Tuesday first identified the four injured CMPD officers as Christopher Tolley, Michael Giglio, Jack Blowers and Joshua Campbell. Only one of the officers remains hospitalized as of Tuesday, according to Jennings, and all are expected to make a full recovery. Three of the officers were shot and another broke his foot.
Officials previously said Terry Clark Hughes, Jr., 39, was the subject of the warrant. He was shot and killed by police, who returned fire when Hughes began shooting, according to CMPD. Hughes was wanted for possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of felony fleeing from Lincoln County.
New details about Galway Drive shooting
Two women, one 17, were also home “voluntarily” during the shooting, Jennings said Tuesday.
Both were taken into custody and are “fully cooperating” with authorities, he said. Neither man had been charged with any crime as of Tuesday morning, Jennings said, but he did not rule out possible charges later.
Jennings said an AR-15 and .40 caliber handgun were recovered from the home. He also walked back previous statements indicating that two people shot at police officers in the home.
“We’re not ready to say that,” Jennings said.
Hugo shot at officers of various positions indoors, Jennings said. That created confusion about how many shooters there were, he said.
“This is part of the investigation that we have to resolve and we will certainly reach a conclusion on this at some point,” he said.
A total of 12 CMPD officers fired their weapons during Monday’s incident and are now on administrative leave in accordance with policy, Jennings said.
Authorities offer condolences and support
Visibly emotional, Jennings called Monday’s shooting “probably the most difficult experience” of his law enforcement career.
“It’s been really hard,” he said as a tear rolled down his face.
Lyles said he visited the hospital Monday night as a procession escorted Eyer’s remains to the medical examiner’s office. The mayor said she was moved by the actions of authorities and the health professionals who worked on them.
“I want you to know that we see you. We support you, not just today, but in the many days to come,” she said before leading the crowd in a moment of silence.
Cooper said he met with some of the families of those killed and one of the injured CMPD officers.
“The investigation into this tragic, brutal and deadly attack will result in more answers that we do not know today. And I hope we find those answers and help bring justice,” he said.
Plans for memorial, funeral service
Details about funeral services for the fallen officers and a public memorial will be released at a later date, Jennings said.
“We are working with families to see exactly how we want to proceed,” he said.
Something will be done to honor the four men killed in conjunction with National Police Week in Mayhe said.
