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At least three law enforcement officers were killed in a shooting incident in Charlotte, North Carolina, while attempting to serve a warrant on Monday afternoon, according to police. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings announced during a news conference that a suspect was killed in a shootout with officers.
“Today is an absolute tragic day for the city of Charlotte and for the profession of law enforcement,” Jennings told reporters.
A U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force, consisting of officers from various agencies, was trying to serve a warrant for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in east Charlotte when the shooting occurred, Jennings said.
As officers approached the individual at a residence, they were met with gunfire, and they returned fire, hitting the individual, Jennings said. The person was later pronounced dead in the front yard.
Additional gunfire came from inside the residence as officers approached, leading to a lengthy standoff, Jennings said.
After the standoff ended, a female and a 17-year-old were found inside the residence and were brought to a police station as persons of interest, Jennings said. Authorities were working to determine what transpired inside the residence. Police believe there were two shooters involved, including the individual killed in the initial shootout, Jennings said.
Jennings said that a total of eight officers were shot. The Marshals Service confirmed that a deputy U.S. marshal was among those killed. Jennings did not disclose all the agencies involved in Monday’s operation, citing the need to notify family members of the deceased officers first.
Four Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers who responded to the shooting were shot, including one who was in critical condition, Jennings said. Police stated on social media that the other wounded officer was from an assisting agency.
“Unfortunately today was something tragic that we never want to see,” Jennings said.
President Biden spoke with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and “expressed his condolences and support for the community,” according to a statement from the White House.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement, “The Justice Department is heartbroken by the deaths of three of our own law enforcement colleagues, and we extend our deepest condolences to their loved ones as they grieve this unfathomable loss.”
Witness Tyler Wilson told CBS affiliate WBTV that he was working at home when he heard officers calling for someone to come out of a neighboring house.
“After that, it was just chaos,” Wilson said. “There was shots ringing left and right. We had SWAT and U.S. marshals set up snipers in our bedrooms. There was a officer got drug by his arms through our house. I don’t know if he was shot or if he injured himself. It’s been pretty crazy. It was about 30 minutes where it was a straight shootout.”
Video posted to social media appeared to show over a dozen police cruisers and two officers running at the scene.
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