Four law enforcement officers were killed, and several others were wounded Monday in a shootout near Charlotte, N.C., according to police.
The four officers who lost their lives were serving a warrant for a felon wanted for unlawful possession of a firearm, The Associated Press reported. The others, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings, were injured after they were called to the home where the gunman opened fire.
“Today we lost some heroes who were out simply trying to keep our community safe,” Jennings said at a news conference.
After a three-hour standoff, police were able to approach the home. Jennings said the U.S. Marshals Task Force were also fired at when they came to the house, and the suspect was later killed in the front yard.
Another person in the home, where a high-powered rifle was found, also fired at the officers, Jennings said, per the AP.
The Marshals confirmed the death of one of its agents. Two Department of Adult Correction officers were also killed, according to North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D).
The fourth victim, Charlotte-Mecklenburg officer Joshua Eyer, died a couple of hours later, Jennings said.
“A lot of the questions that need to be answered, we don’t even know what those questions are now,” Jennings said four hours after the incident. “We have to get a full understanding of why this occurred and also uphold the integrity of the investigation.”
The Associated Press contributed.
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