On April 29, 2024, at approximately 1:30 p.m., Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks Jr., aged 48, was fatally shot during a law enforcement operation in Charlotte, North Carolina. Assigned to the Western District of North Carolina and supporting the Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force, Weeks was part of a team attempting to serve a felony arrest warrant on 39-year-old Terry Clark Hughes Jr. at a residence in the 5500 block of Galway Drive.
As officers approached, Hughes opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle, resulting in a protracted gunbattle lasting over 17 minutes. Deputy Marshal Weeks, along with three other officers—Investigator William "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 killed in the line of duty. Four additional officers sustained injuries during the confrontation.
Hughes, the sole perpetrator, was also killed during the exchange. Subsequent investigations confirmed that he acted alone, and there was no friendly fire involved in the officers' deaths. Hughes had a criminal history, including prior convictions for robbery and firearm possession by a felon.
Deputy Marshal Weeks was a 13-year veteran of the U.S. Marshals Service, having joined in 2011 after serving eight years with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He was known for his dedication to duty and commitment to public safety. Weeks is survived by his wife and four children.
A memorial service honoring Deputy Marshal Weeks was held on May 6, 2024, at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte. Attorney General Merrick Garland and other dignitaries attended, paying tribute to Weeks' service and sacrifice. The ceremony underscored the profound loss felt by the law enforcement community and the nation.
The tragic events of April 29, 2024, marked one of the deadliest days for law enforcement in recent history, prompting discussions on the risks faced by officers in the line of duty and the measures necessary to ensure their safety while protecting the public.
