Four law enforcement officers were fatally shot and four others were wounded while serving an arrest warrant in Charlotte, North Carolina.
A suspected attacker was found dead in the front yard of a barricaded home after a standoff that lasted three hours, police said.
Two other persons of interest were taken into questioning, authorities added.
It is one of the deadliest assaults on US law enforcement in recent years.
The officers were part of a US Marshals Service-led task force. The warrant they were attempting to serve on Monday was against a felon wanted for illegally possessing a firearm.
Gunfire erupted on the suburban street as they tried to do so.
The officers returned fire at an assailant in the front yard, then more shots were fired at them from inside the home, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings told a news conference. A high-powered rifle was found inside the property, he added.
“Today we lost some heroes who were out simply trying to keep our community safe,” the police chief told reporters.
He said it was the worst attack on police officers he could recall in his 30 years on the force.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said two of the officers killed were members of the state’s Department of Adult Corrections (NCDAC).
They were identified as Sam Poloche, who joined NCDAC in 2013, and William “Alden” Elliott, who joined in 2016.
“Our hearts are with the families and co-workers of officers in today’s brutal attack,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Also killed was Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Officer Joshua Eyer, who had served on the force for six years, police said.
“We are forever indebted to Officer Eyer for his bravery and ultimate sacrifice,” a police statement said.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said in a statement that she was “deeply saddened” by the shooting.
She added she spoke to President Joe Biden, who passed his condolences to the community.
In a statement later on Monday night, Mr Biden called the officers “heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice, rushing into harm’s way to protect us.”
Staff, field representatives and board members for CPOF joined the National Honor Guard in traveling to the services of both men and honoring their families. We thank them for their service and keep them and their families in our thoughts and prayers.
Read the obituaries of Task Force Officer Sam Poloche and Investigator William “Alden” Elliot.
Sam was born on January 30, 1982, in Valencia, Venezuela to Samuel Antonio and Doraly Amelia Poloche.
His family moved to the U.S. when he was nine months old, and he grew up in the Orlando area in Florida.
Sam graduated from UNC Pembroke in 2009 with a BA in Criminal Justice. He started working as a parole officer in Richmond County Adult Probation from 2009 to 2013 and decided to apply for a task force position. When Sam was offered a task force job with the US Marshals, the family moved to Charlotte.
Sam was relocated to another task force in 2020 with the FBI. He served on their task force for about five years and was again relocated back to the US Marshals at the end of February 2024.
Sam is survived by his wife of 22 years, Cielo Alegre Poloche, and two sons, Samuel Xavier (21) and Gavin Liam (18). He is also survived by his parents, Samuel and Doraly; his sister, Tatnay Doraly Garza; brother-in-law, Joshua Garza; nephews, Adriel and Aedyn; and niece, Aurelia; two grandmothers; one grandfather; eight aunts, nine uncles, and many cousins who loved him.
Sam was a kind, patient and tech savvy man who dedicated his life to loving his family, serving those around him, and allowing Jesus’ love to shine through him.
His life is reflected in John 15:12-13 “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Alden Elliott
June 2, 1977 – April 29, 2024
My daddy is a hero.
He died getting the bad guys, that’s what he was good at.
He is a Marine.
He is a Police Officer.
He is kind and patient.
He keeps my mom and I safe.
He is my daddy; the best daddy.
We love playing video games together. He really likes Mario, Zelda, and Metroid Return of Samus.
We collect Pokemon cards. I have a Charizard that he helped me get graded.
He and I have watched every Star Wars movie and series.
My daddy loves playing and watching baseball. His favorite team is the Dodgers.
He is an expert marksman, perfect score every time.
For my 12th birthday he bought me a dirt bike. He bought himself one too, so that we could ride together.
I will learn how to ride it and we will ride together one day, Daddy.
He was the best man I will ever know.
And I hope to be just like him.
-Theo
- Investigator Elliot’s obituary was written by his 12 year old son Theo.
You must be logged in to post a comment.