Authorities identify 4 law enforcement officers killed in North Carolina shooting

“Today is a heavy day. The last 24 hours have been truly heartbreaking for everyone,” Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said April 30.

Authorities have identified the four law enforcement officers killed in a shooting that broke out Monday, April 29, while they were executing an arrest warrant at a home in Charlotte, North Carolina.

During a press conference on Tuesday, April 30, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings identified CMPD Officer Joshua Eyer and three members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force as having died from injuries Gunshot.

“Officer Eyer faithfully served the North Tryon Division of CMPD for six years and was a member of the 178th Recruit Class,” CMPD wrote in a statement Monday. statement published on, formerly Twitter. “We are forever indebted to Officer Eyer for his courage and ultimate sacrifice. His life and service will never be forgotten.

One of the members killed was Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks Jr., 48, who was a 13-year veteran of the U.S. Marshals Service and is survived by a wife and four children, the agency said. agency in a statement shared Tuesday.

Related: 4 law enforcement officers killed, 4 injured while serving arrest warrant at home in North Carolina

The other officers killed, Samuel “Sam” Poloche, 42, and William “Alden” Elliott, 46, were both 14-year veterans of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, according to a press release from the organization shared Monday.

“Sam Poloche joined our NCDAC Special Operations and Intelligence Unit in 2013 and Alden Elliott followed in 2016, each after serving several years as probation and parole officers. They loved their work and were passionate about their role in protecting our communities,” wrote Secretary Todd Ishee.

“Sam leaves behind a wife and two children, and Alden and his wife were the parents of one child,” Ishee added.

Authorities said several other officers were injured in the shooting, which occurred around 1:30 p.m. when a task force arrived at a home to execute an arrest warrant for a man who has since been identified as Terry Clark Hughes Jr., 39 years old. Hughes had been wanted for possession of a firearm by a felon in Lincoln County, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Chief Jennings said officers were met with gunfire as they approached Hughes. Jennings confirmed officers returned fire and Hughes was later pronounced dead in the front yard of the home.

The chief added that additional shots were then fired by another person from inside the home. The home was evacuated after a “lengthy standoff” and two people found inside were arrested as persons of interest. They have not been publicly identified and it is unclear whether they will be charged in connection with the shooting.

“Today is a difficult day. The last 24 hours have truly been heartbreaking for everyone,” Chief Jennings said in a statement posted to the department's Facebook page on Tuesday, April 30. “We continue to support and lean on our law enforcement community as we deal with yesterday's tragic attack on officers.

“My prayers go out to the family and friends of CMPD Officer Joshua Eyer and the families of the three other officers killed yesterday afternoon,” he added. “Officer Eyer, North Carolina Department of Corrections Officers Samuel Poloche and William Elliott, and Deputy U.S. Marshals Thomas Weeks made the ultimate sacrifice. Their lives and service will never be forgotten.

A non-profit organization known as Back The Blue NC has created a GoFundMe campaign in hopes of financially supporting surviving family members of the victims in the aftermath of the tragedy.

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“As the investigation progresses and the names of the victims are confirmed, the community stands in solidarity, determined to honor the courage of those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty,” the organization wrote.

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