Fourth law enforcement officer dies, 4 others wounded serving warrant in east Charlotte home

‘Sounded like Vietnam’

Some neighbors, like Larry Mackey, lived close enough to see the firefight.

“All of a sudden it sounded like Vietnam out there,” Mackey said.

When a Charlotte Observer reporter called him around 3:45 p.m., Mackey estimated that there were 30 or 40 police cars at the scene.

Whoever was in the house was still there, he said.

“There was a litany of gunfire, just an enormous amount,” said a neighbor, who said she heard pops from inside her shower. She requested to remain anonymous, citing safety concerns.

The home where the shooting occurred had police cars in front of it twice since the woman neighbor moved in in October, she said. Now, it was surrounded by at least 150 officers and snipers perched on neighbors’ homes. A negotiation tent popped up around 3 p.m. — after officers “dragged” one of the shot officers into an ambulance, she said.

The residence in the 5000 block of Galway Drive where it happened was cleared and the area deemed safe, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said around 5 p.m., about three hours after the shooting.

Lyles said she spoke to the White House, U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson, Speaker of the North Carolina House Tim Moore, and the president of the North Carolina state senate, Phil Berger.

Along with other law enforcement agencies, CMPD will remain at the scene to conduct an investigation. Some roadways in the neighborhood will remain closed, CMPD said.

Earlier, CMPD urged people to “steer clear of the area. Residents stay inside of your homes. Multiple victims transported to nearby hospitals. Gunfire continues on scene. More information to come from CMPD.”

The department said CMPD SWAT was also on the scene “and continuing to work through the incident.”

Lyles posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter: “I am deeply saddened by the shooting that occurred that involved Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers and US Marshals today. I ask that all Charlotteans keep them, the other injured officers, and their families in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.”

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland released a statement Monday afternoon confirming the deaths involved a U.S. marshal.

“Every single day, Deputy U.S. Marshals and Task Force Officers put their lives on the line to apprehend some of our country’s most dangerous criminals,” Garland said. “Today, three of those dedicated public servants made the ultimate sacrifice. Multiple other officers were critically injured while carrying out this operation to protect their community.”

Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call the CMPD Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at (704) 334-1600.

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