3 officers killed, 5 injured while trying to serve warrant in North Carolina: authorities

CHARLOTTE (WJZY) — Three law enforcement officers were shot and killed, and five others were wounded Monday when a U.S. Marshals Task Force tried to serve a warrant in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The officers were in the area of the 5000 block of Galway Drive when “a subject” opened fire on them, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CPMD).

Members of the task force returned fire, striking the shooter in front of the home, but when they approached the suspect another shooter opened fire from inside the residence, CPMD Police Chief Johnny Jennings said during a news conference Monday afternoon.

The slain officers were U.S. marshals, Jennings said, and the five who were wounded were all police officers who responded to the scene. One of the five is in critical condition Monday evening.

Officers from several agencies in the U.S. Marshals Task Force were serving a warrant for a felon who was wanted for possessing a firearm when the first shots were fired.

CMPD did not declare the scene secure for several hours, not until nearly 5 p.m. local time. CMPD said they are now interviewing two residents of the home.

An original police call made over the radio on Monday, April 29, indicated that multiple officers were shot and injured during a barricade situation. Heavy gunfire could be heard for several minutes.

Police issued a “severe alert” Monday afternoon after the shooting broke out, asking people to stay inside their homes and avoid the neighborhood, according to Nexstar’s WJZY.

Multiple CMPD patrol units and Mecklenburg County Sheriff units were spotted speeding towards the crime scene Monday afternoon.

Many roads were closed for faster ambulance transport, CMPD explained, and several schools placed on lockdown.

“Please keep CMPD in your thoughts and prayers as they deal with an active incident,” the North Carolina Fraternal Order of Police said in a post on X Monday.

The victims were transported to nearby hospitals in Charlotte.

Transportation officials issued several closures, warning that public transportation riders should expect delays along bus routes.

“An attack in Charlotte on our brave law enforcement officers who swore an oath to protect and serve us all. Susan and I are praying for everyone’s safety,” Sen. Thom Tillis said in statement Monday.

The Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force is headquartered in Charlotte with 70 federal, state and local agencies. Fugitive task forces are collaborations between agencies to find and arrest suspects in crimes.

In six years, the regional task force has apprehend more than 8,900 fugitives, the U.S. Marshals Service said on its website.

In March 2007, two Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers were killed responding to a domestic dispute by someone not directly involved in the fight. Demeatrius Antonio Montgomery is serving a life sentence in the killings of officers Jeffrey Shelton and Sean Clark.

This is a developing story; The Associated Press contributed to this report.