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Case Update: Criminal Investigation Complete in April 29 Shooting

Published on August 01, 2024

Case Update: Criminal Investigation Complete, Use of Deadly Force Justified in April 29 Shooting

Charlotte, N.C. – (Thursday, August 1, 2024) – Today, Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather released a letter on his findings of the April 29, 2024, officer involved shooting investigation marking the completion of the criminal investigation.

“I appreciate today’s decision by Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather announcing no findings of wrongdoing in the response of officers to the imminent and deadly threat that occurred during the horrific events of April 29, 2024,” said CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings. “This was the single deadliest attack on law enforcement officers in our city’s history. We lost four heroes that day who displayed the epitome of bravery. We will not forget their ultimate sacrifice for our community’s safety. I am extremely grateful to the dedicated members of our Homicide Unit, Crime Lab and Crime Scene Investigations as well as the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office who have carefully and meticulously reviewed approximately 1,100 videos and examined approximately 10,000 pieces of evidence.”

As is standard procedure with any officer involved shooting, the CMPD’s Internal Affairs Division is conducting a separate investigation which is active and ongoing.

For more information about this case, please refer to the report: 20240429-1333-00.

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Case Update: Ballistic Evidence Analyzed in April 29 Investigation

Charlotte, N.C. – (Thursday, June 27, 2024) – The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) has confirmed that all ballistic evidence from the April 29 tragic attack on law enforcement officers in Charlotte has been recovered and examined by the CMPD’s Crime Laboratory. There is no evidence to support that any weapons were used in the assault on officers other than the AR-15 rifle used by the suspect Terry Clark Hughes.

The investigation into this case is active and ongoing. As additional information develops, it will be released by the CMPD’s Public Affairs Division. For more information about this case, please refer to the report: 20240429-1333-00.

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Case Update: Single Shooter and No Friendly Fire Confirmed in April 29 Investigation

Charlotte, N.C. – (Friday, May 31, 2024) – The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) confirmed during a press conference this evening that there was only one shooting suspect and no friendly gunfire that took place during the April 29 tragic attack on law enforcement officers in the 5000 block of Galway Drive in the North Tryon Division. The shooting took the lives of four officers and wounded seven others.

Early in the investigation, there were multiple accounts of a potential second shooter, however, after a thorough review of the evidence and interviews, detectives determined that there was only one shooter on the scene.

The investigation revealed that the suspect moved back and forth between three windows --- the window located at the front of the house, the window located at the back of the house through the bathroom and the window located on the side of the house through another bedroom. Based on interviews, the suspect told the two female occupants to “get out or get down” before he fired his weapon. The suspect then shot an AR-15 rifle out of the back and side windows over a span of 17 minutes before jumping out the front window where he was shot by officers and pronounced deceased by MEDIC in the front yard.

Due to constant gunfire from multiple directions, some officers believed that there was a second shooter, but evidence shows only one shooter was inside the house. The investigation indicates that the only shell casings collected at the scene inside the home are consistent with the AR-15 rifle recovered near the suspect’s body in the front yard. The suspect only used one of his firearms during this incident, the AR-15 rifle. No other firearms were located in the house.

At this point in the incident, eight officers were already shot. Other officers were moving in to evacuate the wounded after shots were fired from the house. One suspect was down outside the home. However, the house had not been cleared yet or rendered safe.

As a team of officers approached the side of the home to evacuate the wounded, an officer observed movement from the same window where gunfire previously rained down. That officer fired one round into that bedroom. Other officers heard active gunfire and they made a tactical decision to utilize suppressive gunfire which was directed at the second floor of the home toward the two windows so that officers could help evacuate the wounded. The investigation concluded that no officers were shot or shot at by other fellow officers while attempting to engage the suspect (considered friendly fire). CMPD confirms that there was no friendly fire in this case and that the suspect was responsible for all who were shot in the line of duty that day.

Graphics from the press conference can be accessed here: https://cmpd.pica9.com/cd/boards/show/hash/754eaa7a-660c-30a0-7add-879c3683c385

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Case Update: Eight Officers Shot, One CMPD Officer and Three U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force Officers Killed During Investigation

Charlotte, N.C. – (Tuesday, April 30, 2024) – Today, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department provided an update on Monday’s tragic attack on law enforcement officers in the North Tryon Division. CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings released the names and conditions of the four CMPD officers wounded in the incident. U.S. Marshals Service Director Ronald Davis released the identity of the fourth officer killed in the line of duty.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks died in the hospital from his gunshot wound injuries. He was a 13-year veteran of the U.S. Marshals Office. CMPD Officer Christopher Tolley, hired in May of 2006, underwent surgery to treat his gunshot wound injuries and remains in the hospital in stable condition. CMPD Officer Michael Giglio, hired in February of 2021, was treated for gunshot wound injuries and released from the hospital Monday. CMPD Officer Jack Blowers, hired in February of 2023, was also treated for his gunshot wound injuries and was released from the hospital Monday. CMPD Officer Justin Campbell, hired in June of 2020, sustained injuries resulting in a broken foot. Officer Campbell was treated and released from the hospital Tuesday morning.

CMPD was joined at a press conference this morning by the U.S. Marshals Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District, Governor Roy Cooper, Attorney General Josh Stein, Mayor Vi Lyles and the City of Charlotte.

CMPD’s Crime Scene Investigation Unit and detectives worked through the night processing the crime scene in the 5000 block of Galway Drive in the North Tryon Division. During the investigation, a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle, 40-caliber handgun and additional magazines and ammo for both weapons were recovered on scene.

Two females inside the residence were brought in on Monday, April 29, to be interviewed by detectives. They are fully cooperating with the investigation. Detectives are not looking for any additional suspects or persons of interest.

Preliminary information indicates that 12 CMPD officers fired their service weapon. All 12 of those officers are on paid, administrative leave. As is standard procedure with any officer involved shooting, the CMPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau will conduct a separate but parallel investigation.

The officers involved in yesterday’s shooting incident are a part of the Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force (CRFTF), which began operations in January of 2018. The task force is the newest Regional Fugitive Task Force of the U.S. Marshals Office and is compromised of the following agencies: Atrium Health, Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Department of Homeland Security – HIS, the Department of Justice ATF, Gaston County Police Department, Gastonia Police Department, Huntersville Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, Monroe Police Department, Mooresville Police Department, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, Statesville Police Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office and the York County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation into this incident is being conducted by the CMPD’s Homicide Unit. This is an active and ongoing investigation.

As additional information develops, it will be released by the CMPD’s Public Affairs Office. For additional information in reference to this case, please refer to the report: 20240429-1333-00.

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Eight Officers Shot, One CMPD Officer and Three U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force Officers Killed During Investigation

Charlotte, N.C. – (Monday, April 29, 2024) – On Monday, April 29, 2024, an armed suspect opened fire on law enforcement officers in the 5000 block of Galway Drive in the North Tryon Division. Four Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers were shot, one of which succumbed to his injuries. Additionally, four officers from the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force were shot, three of which succumbed to their injuries.

On Monday, April 29, 2024, around 1:30 p.m., the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, comprised of officers from multiple agencies, was conducting an investigation in the North Tryon Division at a home in the 5000 block of Galway Drive. The preliminary investigation indicates officers were attempting to serve active felony warrants on a male subject. As officers approached, the male subject discharged his firearm striking multiple officers. These officers requested immediate response from other officers. As officers responded, the gunfire continued, striking additional officers.

In total, eight officers were struck during the gunfire. The officers were rushed to area hospitals. Three task force officers were pronounced deceased at the hospital. One of the injured CMPD Officers, Joshua Eyer, a 6-year veteran, fought for his life for several hours before succumbing to his injuries.

The male suspect exited the residence on Galway Drive with a firearm. Law enforcement officers perceived an imminent deadly threat and fired their service weapons striking the suspect in the front yard of the residence.

The CMPD’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) began negotiations with other occupants in the house. Two females exited the residence and were transported to the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) in Uptown (601 E. Trade St.) to be interviewed by detectives.

Upon securing the scene, the suspect was pronounced deceased at the residence. The deceased suspect has been identified as Terry Clark Hughes, Jr, 39. Mr. Hughes was wanted for Possession of a Firearm by Felon and Felony Flee to Elude (2 counts) out of Lincoln County, North Carolina.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, The U.S. Marshals Office, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, CMPD's Crime Scene Investigations, CMPD’s Operations Command, Victim Services, N.C. State Highway Patrol, Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Homicide Prosecution Team, MEDIC and the Charlotte Fire Department all responded to the scene.

The investigation is being conducted by CMPD’s Homicide Unit. This is an active and ongoing investigation. As is standard procedure with any officer involved shooting, the CMPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau will conduct a separate but parallel investigation.

As additional information develops, it will be released by the CMPD’s Public Affairs Office. For additional information in reference to this case, please refer to the report: 20240429-1333-00.

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