A shooting unfolded when officers were serving a warrant in Charlotte on April 29.
A number of law enforcement officers have been shot in North Carolina, with four suffering fatal wounds while serving a state fugitive arrest warrant, according to police there.
“Numerous law enforcement officers struck by gunfire” in a situation off Galway Drive, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said in a statement at 2:16 p.m. ET.
The area is in the eastern part of Charlotte.
Officials said that multiple victims were being rushed to nearby hospitals and that, due to the scene still being active, roads were still blocked as of 3:08 p.m. Some nearby schools were also locked down.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said in a Monday night update that eight officers—some from the U.S. Marshals and some from local law enforcement—had been shot and injured in the “most tragic” shooting, with four having succumbed to their wounds.
The gunfire erupted when the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force was serving a warrant to a convicted felon for possession of a firearm at a Charlotte home. They were confronted by “high-powered rifle” gunfire, to which they returned fire, the chief said. The suspect, who was a convicted felon, was shot dead in the front yard of the house during the response.
“As officers approached, they received additional gunfire from inside the residence,” Chief Jennings said.
In a statement to The Epoch Times, the U.S. Marshals Service said that a deputy U.S. marshal and two of their task force officers were among those killed. Several other task force members and local officers were also shot and wounded.
“Our hearts are heavy tonight for the lives shattered by today’s horrific shooting in Charlotte, NC. We mourn the loss of our Deputy and two Task Force Officers. We are grateful for all the support, and we keep the families and colleagues of all officers involved, in our thoughts,” the service said.
Chief Jennings said that four of the wounded officers were from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD and that one was in critical condition in the hospital, “fighting for his life.” The other officers were in stable condition.
By Zachary Stieber and Melanie Sun
