Fourth law enforcement officer dies, 4 others wounded serving warrant in east Charlotte home

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In one of the nation’s most devastating attacks on law enforcement in generations, a suspect fired a high-powered rifle at officers in east Charlotte on Monday afternoon, killing four and injuring four others.

A little after 9:30 p.m. Eastern time, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said Officer Joshua Eyer passed away from the injuries he sustained while assisting officers with apprehending the suspect. He initially was in critical condition after the incident.

The suspect was holed up in a home on Galway Drive in the Shannon Park neighborhood when a U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force approached, trying to serve a warrant on a felon for possession of a firearm. Three members of the task force — a U.S. marshal and two officers from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction — were killed and a fourth shot. Scores of CMPD officers raced to the scene, and four of them were shot as well.

Details of the encounter have not been released, but officers shot back, striking the suspect. He later died in the home’s front yard. Two others in the home were taken into custody.

CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings said it was the worst attack on law enforcement in his memory in his 30-plus years with the department.

Mayor Vi Lyles, who spoke after Jennings, fought back tears as she reacted to the events from earlier that afternoon.

“We’ve lost three people,” Lyles said, at a time when Ayers was still in critical condition. “They gave us the opportunity to be in a safe place and they lost their lives.”

Also Monday, President Joe Biden also spoke with Lyles to express his condolences and support for the community.

Ayes was the only victim whose name was released so far. Ayers served in the department’s North Tryon Division for six years, CMPD said, and was a member of the 178th recruit class.

“We’ll always be indebted to Officer Eyer for his bravery and his sacrifice for this profession,” Jennings said Monday night while addressing reporters. “It was just (recently), I was in this very room, congratulating Officer Eyer for becoming Officer of the Month in April. He certainly dedicated his life, and gave his life to serve our citizens.”

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