Charlotte, North Carolina – Three U.S. Marshals were tragically killed, and five officers were injured during a fatal shootout on Monday afternoon as a U.S. Marshals Task Force attempted to serve a warrant.
According to authorities, the suspect they were serving the warrant on was the first to open fire, resulting in a deadly exchange of gunfire. The suspect was later found deceased at the scene.
Law enforcement officials suspect the involvement of two shooters in the incident and have taken two individuals into custody for further investigation, one of whom is a 17-year-old juvenile.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department reported that a total of eight law enforcement officers were shot during the incident. Tragically, three U.S. Marshals lost their lives, with another U.S. Marshal sustaining injuries, along with four Charlotte police officers, one of whom is in critical condition.
The shootout unfolded when the U.S. Marshals Task Force tried to serve a warrant for a convicted felon’s possession of a firearm. The officers were met with gunfire from the suspect at the scene.
All wounded officers were swiftly transported to hospitals for medical treatment, with a SWAT team arriving at the scene just after 2:00 p.m. Authorities advised residents to remain indoors and avoid the area due to blocked roads for ambulance access.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper expressed his concern for the situation and offered state resources to assist in resolving the tragic shooting that occurred in the Charlotte area.
Residents in the 5000 block of Galway Drive were urged to remain indoors, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department was contacted for additional information regarding the incident.
The investigation into the shootout is ongoing, and any updates will be provided as they become available.