(The Center Square) – Three lawmen killed in the line of duty, and five others wounded by gunfire caused an outpouring of reponses throughout North Carolina on Monday evening.
The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force attempted to serve a warrant in Charlotte. A marshal and two state Department of Adult Correction officers lost their lives, four members of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department were injured, and an officer with an assisting agency was also injured, according to published reports and a social media post from the Police Department.
One of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg officers was in critical condition. The last marshal killed in the line of duty was Chase White, in Tucson, Ariz., in November 2018.
The cause for the warrant was possession of a firearm by a felon. The regional task force, it says, has apprehended more than 8,900 fugitives in the last six years.
The Police Department social media site said, “The heroic actions of these officers are a testament to the dangers our law enforcement officers face daily. Today, some of our fellow colleagues made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and protection of our community. We are grateful for the bravery shown by all officers and outpouring of responses from our neighboring agencies.”
U.S. Marshals have 56 local task forces. Funding is granted, the U.S. Marshals website says, often “through initiatives such as the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces, and Project Safe Neighborhoods task forces.”
“Today we lost some heroes, that are out simply trying to keep our community safe,” said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings. “They knew what they were going into, and still held their own in attempting to apprehend this suspect.”
At least three people were in the home when lawmen arrived with the warrant. One is dead, two others – a woman and a 17-year-old boy – were being questioned.
