Gov. Roy Cooper said North Carolina will never be able to fill the void or fully thank the families of the four law enforcement officers who lost their lives while executing warrants in Charlotte on Monday. Ta.
Authorities on Tuesday identified the slain officers as:
- Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Officer Joshua Eyer
- Samuel “Sam” Poroche of the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections.
- Alden Elliott is also an employee of the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections.
- Thomas M. Weeks Jr. Deputy U.S. Marshal
Four more Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers were injured Monday, and three of them have been released from the hospital. CMPD Officer Christopher Tolley remained in stable condition Tuesday after undergoing surgery to treat his gunshot wounds.
Governor Cooper told attendees at Tuesday's press conference that he spent time with police officers at the hospital on Monday and was moved by the stories of the officers who lost their lives.
“They were good people…people you could trust, people you could trust, people who would risk their lives,” Cooper said.
The governor said this tragedy will continue to leave a deep sense of emptiness. He asked North Carolinians to pray for his family and his law enforcement colleagues.
Attorney General Josh Stein joined Mr. Cooper in saying words are not enough as we mourn the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice.
“We ask our peace officers to do things that are awe-inspiring. They face dangers that every human impulse would lead them to seek refuge in; We do it to keep us safe,” Stein said. “They engage the public. They patrol, investigate, and make arrests so our children can learn safely in school, play safely in their neighborhoods, and sleep safely at home.”
Stein said the city of Charlotte is strong and the coming days and weeks will be a time to surround the families and friends of police officers with “the love they need and deserve.”
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said he wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the actions of the Queen City's health care providers in this moment of tragedy.
“You did everything you could. We are grateful that you were able to continue to look after those who are still in your care and those who had to return home. “I'm doing it,” Lyles said. “If you can stand in the Atrium and Novan and see the doctors helping out with what they're trying to do, we'll be grateful as a community. As mayor, we'll be grateful.”
Authorities said 39-year-old Terry Clark Hughes Jr. had a lengthy criminal record, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was killed during a gunfight on Monday. Among the items recovered from the scene were an AR-15 and his .40 caliber handgun.
Flags will be flown at half-staff in North Carolina until Friday in honor of fallen police officers.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Foundation is accepting donations for the officers' families. A GoFundMe campaign organized by Back the Blue North Carolina to support the families of the slain police officers had raised more than $82,000 as of Tuesday night.
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