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Remember 4 men who were killed 1 year later

Charlotte, NC (WBTV) – Tuesday marked one year since four law enforcement members were ambushed in East Charlotte.

The 2024 attack in Charlotte was assumed to be the deadliest against US criminal prosecution officers since 2016.

The following four law enforcement members were ambushed on April 29, 2024: the police officer of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Joshua Eyer; The members of the Department of Adults by North Carolina, Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott; and deputy US marshal Thomas Weeks Jr.

“An absolutely tragic day for the city of Charlotte and the profession of law enforcement,” said Johnny Jennings, police chief of Charlotte, on the day of ambalance. “Today we lost some heroes … who were outside … only tried to get our community to safety.”

Joshua Eyer (left), Thomas M. Weeks Jr. (Middle Left), Sam Poloche (medium right), Alden Elliott (right)(WBTV)

What happened on April 29, 2024

The ambush occurred on Monday, April 29, 2024, in a house on the Galway Drive near Denson Place in Charlotte.

The members of the Task Force tried to fulfill an arrest warrant for the 39-year-old Terry Hughes, who was sought by an ex-felon due to possession of a firearm and fled to evade in the Lincoln district.

The police said that the authorities were hit by shots when they tried to meet the arrest warrant. Then a shootout took place.

Four officers were killed. Four other law enforcement members were wounded, but have recovered since then.

“Although the officials tried to take coverage, they were at a disadvantage because the suspect was at a higher level and they were left out of the fire from a lower position,” said Jennings, noticing that the shooter “shot from above”.

At some point Hughes was shot by the law enforcement authorities. It was declared dead in the front yard of the house.

A semi-automatic AR-15 rifle, a gun with 40 caliber and ammunition were found at home. Jennings said that more than 100 used rounds were found, although it was not clear how many Hughes were fired.

At least 12 officers also fired weapons.

Officer Joshua Eyer

Eyer was born in New Jersey and was 31 when he was amazed.

Before Eyer worked at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department, he spent 12 years at the North Carolina Army National Guard and was used twice.

Eyer joined the department in 2017 and served in the North Tryon Division. In the same year he married his wife Ashley. The couple had a child named Andrew.

Just a few weeks before he was killed, Eyer was honored as the officer of the month. The department said that Eyer had made “outstanding, proactive police efforts for the patrol of the areas of Sugar Creek, North Tryon Street and the I-85 corridor”.

In three weeks before receiving the award, the police said that Eyer and Officer Aubrey Guldager had made 16 arrests, 14 of whom were associated with the following crimes:

  • Possession of a firearm by a criminal.
  • Attempted first degree murder.
  • Armed robbery.
  • Law robbery.
  • Various drugs -related crimes and property crimes.

-> before: Officer Joshua Eyer honored weeks before he was killed in service

Charlotte's police stated that these arrests were only a “small insight” for the commitment and commitment to the work of Eyer for the protection and the services of the city of Charlotte.

“He was a phenomenal officer and the epitome of what our civil servants and all law enforcement agencies want to be every day,” wrote a spokesman last year. “We ask you to keep the family of Officer Eyer in your thoughts and asked.”

Deputy US marshal Thomas Weeks Jr.

Weeks, a Mooresville resident, was also killed on April 29, 2024.

He was a 13-year-old veteran of the US Marshal Service. Previously, he spent eight years with the US customs and border protection.

He left a woman and four children.

Hundreds of people, including many first aiders, lined the streets when they were amazed at a funeral company. In honor of the marshal there was a transfer and a 21-gun greeting.

-> before: False deputy US marshal, which was honored with memorial service

Days before his funeral service, Chief Richter Bob Conrad von weeks he knew personally. Conrad worked with weeks in the Federal Court in Uptown Charlotte when the Marshal filled to keep the building safely.

“You can't say the expression 'Tommy weeks' without a smile,” said Conrad. “I don't think there is a person who came through this courthouse who did not feel respected and respected him … He was really a hero in the sense that he laid his life for others.”

US Marschalls Task Force Member Sam Poloche

Sam Poloche, member of the US -Marschals -Ask Force, worked for 14 years for the corrections of North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections. He was also killed in ambush in 2024.

According to his obituary, Polche was born in Venezuela, but moved to the USA when he was a baby and grew up in Florida. He left a woman and two children.

-> before: Relatives, Community to finally say goodbye to the false officer Sam Poloche

The Ministry of Justice, Todd Isheee, said Polche loved his work and was thrilled to protect the communities throughout the state.

A procession was held for Polche when his body was moved to a funeral company in MINT Hill.

Samuel "Sam" Pole week
Samuel “Sam” Poloche(NC Department of Adult Corrections)

US -Marschall -Ask Force member Alden Elliott

Alden Elliott Alden Elliott, member of the US marshals, was a veteran of the department for father, husband, marine and 14 years in North Carolina. He was also killed in ambush in 2024.

“My father is a hero. He died to get the evil. He was good.”

These were the opening words in a 16-line poem in the obituary on Elliott, written by his son and the only child.

“He is friendly and patient,” continued the poem. “He holds my mother and I to safety. He is my daddy, the best father.”

-> before: “Daddy is a hero”: son of the fallen officer

A memorial service for Elliott with military honors took place on the Tarlton complex on the campus of the Catawba Valley Community College.

William "Alden" Elliott
William “Alden” Elliott(NC Department of Corrections)

Suspicious crime history

Terry Hughes, the suspect at fatal shootings last year, led the police in January 2024 with a chase of 120 miles per hour and almost collided with cars while driving on oncoming traffic, and showed new records in a WBTV examination.

The report claimed that Hughes had used a car that belonged to a woman who lived in the house in which the police shootout took place almost five months after this chase.

-> More about that: Charlotte Shootout -suspect led the MPs to 120 km / h in January

The reports were the first indication of the law enforcement agencies about the connection of Hughes possibly to the house in which the fleeting Task Force appeared in force before the fatal shootout.

WBTV investigations: Records reveal a connection to House where Standoff has happened

Stair promotion honors fallen officers

About 1,800 people came together on Sunday, April 27, to remember the life of the officers who were shot last year during the eighth annual tunnels for the Towers Charlotte Climb Event.

Friends, family, colleagues, partners and the community rose in the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte for almost 1,500 stairs and crossed the finish line on the field.

-> more: Stair promotion in the Bank of America Stadium Honors by Fasen Charlotte officers

Hundreds of people rose almost 1,500 stairs on Sunday morning and crossed the finish line on the ...
Hundreds of people rose almost 1,500 stairs on Sunday morning and crossed the finish line on the Bank of America.(WBTV)

More of our 2024 ambalance coverage

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