Three of the four cops killed during a violent three-hour standoff in Charlotte, North Carolina have been identified - including two veteran officers of 14 years.
Samuel 'Sam' Polche, William 'Alden' Elliot, and police officer Joshua Eyer were killed in a shooting at a home in Charlotte on Monday as they tried to serve a warrant. Mr Polche and Mr Elliot, both 14-year veterans with the agency, were North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections officers working with the US Marshal's office.
Mr Eyer had served the police department's North Tryon Division for six years, the department added. The US Marshal killed in the standoff has not been named.
READ MORE: 4 US officers killed as one shooting suspect dead after multiple cops wounded
The officers were serving a warrant for a suspect wanted for possessing a firearm when they were shot at by the individual in the front yard, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings. A suspect was killed in a shootout with cops.
A 17-year-old boy and a woman were discovered in the house following the three-hour standoff that saw armored vehicles ram into the home and tear off the doorways and windows. Multiple officers were injured trying to help their colleagues.
"Today is an absolutely tragic day for the city of Charlotte and for the profession of law enforcement,' Mr Jennings said, according to WRAL . 'Today we lost some heroes that are out to just simply try to keep our community safe."
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles added in her own statement at the conference as she teared up: "Three people lost their lives today, and the most that I can ask of our community is that we honor and respect them for all the work that they’ve done, all the work that we’ll do to make our city safer."
Four Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools were placed on lockdown following the shooting, but that was lifted in the late afternoon. In a statement, President Joe Biden paid tribute to the "brave" officers who were tragically killed.
He said: "Earlier today, four brave law enforcement officers – including a Deputy U.S. Marshal – were killed in the line of duty. They are heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice, rushing into harm’s way to protect us. We mourn for them and their loved ones. And we pray for the recoveries of the courageous officers who were wounded.
Join the Mirror's SMS news service to get the biggest breaking stories delivered straight to your phone. Click here to subscribe.
"When a law enforcement officer puts on that shield in the morning and heads out the door, their family members dread the phone call – the very call that came today. It’s like losing a piece of your soul. To the families of those we lost: Jill and I, and all Americans, are here for you. And we will always be here for you.
"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 action to combat the scourge of gun violence. Now. Leaders in Congress need to step up so that we ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require safe storage of guns, and pass universal background checks and a national red flag law. Enough is enough. May God Bless these fallen heroes."
Most Popular
Comments / 0