Three law enforcement officers have died following a shooting incident in Charlotte, North Carolina, including one deputy US Marshal and two local task force officers.
Authorities earlier cleared the scene outside a residence in Charlotte, where multiple police officers were shot today, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said.
The officers were met with gunfire during a US Marshals task force investigation, according to police.
“The residence on Galway Drive is now clear, and the area is safe. Residents no longer need to shelter in place,” Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said in an X post.
One suspect was found dead, and two other people were found in the home and are being held by police for questioning, according to the post.
The shooting broke out at about 1pm, prompting a massive law enforcement response as police cars and ambulances raced to the neighbourhood and shut down surrounding streets.
Gunfire continued for several minutes after the initial shooting.
Three hours after the gunfire, police said one person suspected in the shooting was found dead by a SWAT team clearing the home on the east side of the city, according to police.
They said two others inside the home were being questioned.
Gunfire continued for several minutes after the initial shooting.
Authorities did not say exactly how many officers were struck by gunfire or elaborate on their conditions.
WSOC-TV said their helicopter captured an armoured vehicle driving through yards and knocking over recycling bins before officers removed a person with blood on their shirt who was then loaded into an ambulance.
After the home was cleared, the helicopter pilot said he couldn’t show the front lawn of the home because the scene was too disturbing.
Several armoured vehicles were on nearby lawns and driveways of the older suburban neighbourhood of a tree-lined street with brick homes.
Many roads in the area including Interstate 77 were closed so ambulances could get to hospitals faster.
TV footage showed ambulances speeding to hospitals with several vehicles with sirens on both in front and behind them.
Kiashia Williams was driving home when she heard several shots separated by a few seconds.
“Ambulances, police and everything everywhere just started rushing down,” Williams said as she waited in her car to be allowed to go home and check on her daughter, who broadcast what she saw on social media.
Four Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools were placed on lockdown around afternoon dismissal, but that was lifted in the late afternoon, the district said.
Police urged people to stay away from the neighbourhood and asked residents to remain inside their homes.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said he was in contact with law enforcement in Charlotte and offered any state resources to help.
Authorities did not immediately specify the nature of the warrant being served by the task force operation.
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 8900 fugitives, the US 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.
