President Joe Biden was scheduled to visit Wilmington, but decided to make a stop before Charlotte, where on Monday, April 29, four officers lost their lives while trying to comply with a court order. Biden met with Police Chief Johnny Jennings and the officers’ families.
This Thursday, May 2, President Joe Biden visited the families of the four officers who died during a shooting that occurred earlier this week. He also spoke with the families of the four officers who were injured and remain in the hospital.
“I just got back from Charlotte. I spent some time with some of the families of the eight police officers who were shot in the line of duty on Monday; four of them died,” Biden said upon his arrival in Wilmington, CNN reported.
The president named the four murdered agents
The president named the four agents who were murdered while doing their job and shared that he also visited the families of the officers who are still hospitalized recovering from their injuries.
CNN said Biden offered his prayers to the officers’ families and asked “for the recovery of the brave wounded.”
“Every time an officer puts on that shield and walks out the door, a family member wonders if they will get that call,” the president shared.
During his visit to Charlotte, Biden was received at Charlotte Douglas International Airport by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings, who thanked him for his visit. Biden said officers need more resources for his safety.
“Four brave officers died”
As soon as the US president learned of the fatal shooting in North Carolina, he sent his condolences in a statement in which he asked for more resources for officers.
“Four brave law enforcement officers, including a Deputy U.S. Marshal, died in the line of duty. “They are heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice and threw themselves into danger to protect us,” he wrote.
“We must do more to protect our law enforcement officers. That means funding them, so they have the resources they need to do their jobs and keep us safe. And it means taking additional steps to combat the scourge of gun violence, he said.
This afternoon, @POTUS stopped by Charlotte to visit the families of the fallen officers and three of our injured officers from the tragic event on Monday. I have shared thoughts on the heroic actions our officers took on Monday and every day. Their service and sacrifice can never be… https://t.co/vDsP83mgM3
— CMPD News (@CMPD) May 2, 2024
“We continue to be overwhelmed by the support of our community”
Chief Johnny Jennings thanked Biden for his visit, “this afternoon, @POTUS stopped by Charlotte to visit the families of the fallen officers and three of our officers injured in Monday’s tragic event.”
“He shared his thoughts about the heroic actions our officers took on Monday and every day. Thank you to President Biden for stopping by and sharing a moment with our local heroes. “We continue to be overwhelmed by the support from our community and across the country.”
Officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and members of the U.S. Marshals Service were attempting to serve an arrest warrant for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon east of Charlotte.
The officers were met with a volley of gunfire, with bullets wounding four officers and killing four. Officers returned fire and killed the suspect, according to the local police chief.
The four agents were identified by authorities after confirming their deaths.
- William Elliot, North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections
- Samuel Poloche, North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections
- Joshua Eyer, veteran of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
- Thomas Weeks, Marshal assigned to the Fugitive Task Force
Who shot the agents?
Authorities also identified the gunman who started the shooting as Terry Clark Hughes Jr., 39, who was killed during the exchange of gunfire.
Deputies are investigating and trying to determine a precise timeline of events, and whether Hughes acted alone or with a second shooter. The suspect had a criminal history, police said.
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