Final two autopsies released for officers killed in April east Charlotte shooting
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The final two autopsies, released on Wednesday, for the four law enforcement officers killed on April 29th on Galway Drive in east Charlotte, seem to reveal the shooter fired on officers from above at an angle.
Autopsies for Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks, Jr. and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Joshua Eyer were released nearly two months after the shooting in the Shannon Park neighborhood.
April 29th was one of the deadliest days for law enforcement in the country.
“We have determined that there was only one shooter who fired at officers,” said CMPD Deputy Chief Tonya Arrington at a news conference on May 31st. “No officers were shot or shot at by other officers.”
The autopsy for Weeks, Jr. reveals he was killed by a bullet that hit his upper chest and traveled down, cutting his lung, and leaving his body.
The autopsy for Eyer shows the bullet that killed him hit him in the back of his chest and went through his stomach.
Autopsies for Investigators William “Alden” Elliott and Samuel Poloche were released on May 14.
The U.S. Marshals task force was there to arrest a felon, Terry Hughes, Jr., that day.
Investigators say Hughes, Jr. fired at officers using an AR-15 rifle from the second-floor windows for more than 17 minutes from the front and back sides of the house.
“We need more. I’ve got four officers down, four officers down,” said one officer on radio traffic.
Officers took cover and returned fire.
Police say other officers were shot by Hughes, Jr. as they tried to rescue the fallen.
Queen City News
Shannon Park Shooting
Queen City News files petition for release of bodycam video of shooting that killed 4 law enforcement officers in Charlotte
No friendly fire during deadly east Charlotte shooting that killed four officers: CMPD
Charlotte group felt much more was needed this year after the Shannon Park shooting
911 calls released in east Charlotte shooting that killed 4 law enforcement officers
Lowe’s giving away blue light bulbs to support Charlotte’s fallen officers
At 17 minutes, investigators say Hughes, Jr. jumped from a second-floor window into the front yard, where he died, but the shooting continued.
“Guy in the front yard is down but there’s still somebody shooting,” said an officer on the radio traffic.
Police say that’s because an officer saw something move in the second-floor window and officers chose to tactically shoot up, not at one another, for two minutes in what they call “suppressive fire.”
“It was intentional gunfire in an upward trajectory at the two windows where they were taking fire,” said Arrington on May 31.
CMPD has body-worn camera video from April 29th, but the U.S. Marshals task force does not.
Deputy marshals in other parts of the country already have the cameras.
Queen City News asked Wednesday and found out that the rollout in the Carolinas is expected to start in the next few weeks.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
