Honoring

Police Officer Joshua Eyer

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, North Carolina

EOW: April 29, 2024 | Age: 31 | Tour: 6 Years

Police Officer Joshua Eyer succumbed to gunshot wounds he sustained while assisting in serving a warrant on a convicted felon in the 5500 block of Galway Drive in east Charlotte. At 1:30 p.m., members of the U.S. Marshals Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force attempted to serve a felony warrant for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The wanted subject ambushed them with a high-powered rifle and engaged them in a prolonged gun battle. Investigator Sam Poloche, Investigator Alden Elliott, and Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks were killed at the scene. Officer Eyer succumbed to his wounds several hours later. Three officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and a second Deputy United States Marshal were also wounded. The wanted subject was shot and killed, and two subjects were taken into custody for questioning. Investigator Eyer was a North Carolina Army National Guard veteran and had served with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for six years. He was the Officer of the Month for April 2024. He is survived by his wife and three-year-old son.

Honoring

Investigator Samuel Poloche

North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, North Carolina

EOW: April 29, 2024 | Age: None | Tour: 14 Years

Investigator Sam Poloche and Investigator Alden Elliott of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, Police Officer Joshua Eyer of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, and Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks were shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant in the 5500 block of Galway Drive in east Charlotte. At 1:30 p.m., members of the U.S. Marshals Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force attempted to serve a felony warrant for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The wanted subject ambushed them with a high-powered rifle and engaged them in a prolonged gun battle. Investigator Poloche, Investigator Elliott, and Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks were killed at the scene. Officer Joshua Eyer succumbed to his wounds several hours later. Three officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and a second Deputy United States Marshal were also wounded. The wanted subject was shot and killed, and two subjects were taken into custody for questioning. Investigator Poloche had served with the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction for 14 years and was assigned to the Special Operations and Intelligence Unit. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Honoring

Investigator William "Alden" Elliott

North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, North Carolina

EOW: April 29, 2024 | Age: 46 | Tour: 16 Years

Investigator Alden Elliott and Investigator Sam Poloche of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, Police Officer Joshua Eyer of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, and Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks were shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant in the 5500 block of Galway Drive in east Charlotte. At 1:30 p.m., members of the U.S. Marshals Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force attempted to serve a felony warrant for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The wanted subject ambushed them with a high-powered rifle and engaged them in a prolonged gun battle. Investigator Poloche, Investigator Elliott, and Deputy United States Marshal Thomas Weeks were killed at the scene. Officer Joshua Eyer succumbed to his wounds several hours later. Three officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and a second Deputy United States Marshal were also wounded. The wanted subject was shot and killed, and two subjects were taken into custody for questioning. Investigator Elliott was a United States Marine Corps veteran. He had served with the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction for 14 years, was assigned to the Special Operations and Intelligence Unit and the U.S. Marshal's Regional Fugitive Task Force, and previously served with the Overland Park Police Department (Kansas). He is survived by his wife and son.

Honoring

Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, U.S. Government

EOW: April 29, 2024 | Age: 48 | Tour: 21 Years

Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks, Investigator Alden Elliott and Investigator Sam Poloche of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, and Police Officer Joshua Eyer of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department were shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant in the 5500 block of Galway Drive in east Charlotte. At 1:30 p.m., members of the U.S. Marshals Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force attempted to serve a felony warrant for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The wanted subject ambushed them with a high-powered rifle and engaged them in a prolonged gun battle. Deputy U.S. Marshal Weeks, Investigator Poloche, and Investigator Elliott were killed at the scene. Officer Joshua Eyer succumbed to his wounds several hours later. Three officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and a second Deputy United States Marshal were also wounded. The wanted subject was shot and killed, and two subjects were taken into custody for questioning. Deputy U.S. Marshal Weeks had served with the United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service for 13 years and previously served with the United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection for eight years. He is survived by his wife and four children.

Honoring

Sergeant Bill Hooser

Santaquin Police Department, Utah

EOW: May 5, 2024 | Age: None | Tour: None

Sergeant Bill Hooser was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer that was fleeing a traffic stop on I-15 near mile marker 244 in Santaquin. A Utah Highway Patrol trooper and Sergeant Hooser initiated a traffic stop at 6:30 a.m. after reports of a person standing on the back of a semi-trailer. The driver fled and turned his tractor-trailer around, driving south on the northbound lanes, when he hit Sergeant Hooser, his patrol car, and the trooper's vehicle. Sergeant Hooser was killed instantly. The subject fled on foot and stole a truck. He was apprehended after crashing the truck during a short pursuit. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a granddaughter.

Honoring

Paramedic Quentin “Kente” Carter

Colquitt Police Department, Georgia

EOW: May 2, 2024 | Age: None | Tour: None

MILLER COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - The Miller County community is mourning the loss of one of their own. First responder Quentin “Kente” Carter has passed away. A Facebook post from the Colquitt Police Department says, “The city of Colquitt and Miller County have lost a brave soul who served with unwavering commitment. our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

Honoring

Paramedic Marcin Bed-Narz

Wallington Fire Department, New Jersey

EOW: April 29, 2024 | Age: 22 | Tour: None

A volunteer firefighter from New Jersey was killed last weekend in an Orange County motorcycle crash. Marcin Bed-Narz, of Wallington, was heading westbound on Arden Valley Road Sunday afternoon, Tuxedo police say. Witnesses say he crossed a double yellow line to pass other motorcyclists but went off the roadway. He was taken to Westchester Medica Center, where he died. Bednarz was a volunteer with the Wallington Fire Department and a former member of Wallington's emergency services.

Honoring

Firefighter Blake Barnes

Rolling Fork Fire Department, Kentucky

EOW: April 23, 2024 | Age: 22 | Tour: None

HODGENVILLE, Ky. — A Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) contract worker died after being hit by a vehicle in LaRue County on Tuesday morning. Around 9 a.m., Kentucky State Police (KSP) was called to investigate a fatal collision involving a van and a highway worker near the 3100 block of Old Elizabethtown Road (KY210). Police said James Henry, 74, of Louisville, was driving eastbound on Old Elizabethtown Road when he entered a part of the road that was reduced to one lane, due to routine maintenance operations. KSP said Henry didn't see Blake Barnes, 22, of Elizabethtown, who was in the eastbound lane of the road flagging traffic, and ended up hitting him. Barnes was pronounced dead on the scene. Henry received no injuries. KYTC Secretary Jim Gray said their "hearts ache" for the loss of Barnes. "We extend our sincere condolences to all those impacted by this tragedy. Please join us in lifting up the families, friends and colleagues in your thoughts and prayers. The safety and well-bring of all employees is a top priority, and we are working with authorities as they review the incident. The contracted employee was part of a maintenance operation on KY 210 in LaRue County when he was struck by a vehicle. Out of respect for the privacy of the individual's loved ones and until we have a clearer understanding of the events, we have no further details at this time." Barnes was also a volunteer for the Rolling Fork Fire Department. The department made a post on Facebook saying: "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of one of our own; Firefighter Blake Barnes. Blake succumbed to injuries' he received working this morning at his job. Please keep his family, Rolling Fork FD and those responders in your thoughts and prayers. Details will be posted as they become available. Rest Easy Brother....." Old Elizabethtown Road was closed for several hours to allow authorities to investigate the accident and redirect traffic. KSP was assisted at the scene by the LaRue Co. Sheriff’s Department, LaRue Co. Coroner, LaRue Co. Fire Department and the LaRue Co. EMS. The crash remains under investigation.