CHARLOTTE, N.C. — One day after an attempted arrest in east Charlotte turned into a deadly shootout, law enforcement and the community looked to heal.
The standoff claimed the lives of three law enforcement officers serving on a U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and one Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer after they were met with "active gunfire" from a suspect at an east Charlotte home. Five other officers were wounded. The suspect was killed.
Wiping tears from his face, CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings provided the latest of several updates on the deadly encounter with NC Governor Roy Cooper and Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles by his side.
"The last few days have just been very tough and knowing that you have families that are hurting right now," Jennings said. "We'll get through it though."
Bouquets lay outside CMPD headquarters Tuesday. That memorial was one of several to appear in memory of the officers who died.
"We came from Hickory to give comfort and love to those that are suffering," Sandy Matthews with St. Stephens Lutheran Church & School said.
The faith-based group brought a dog in support of any officer in need. Also at CMPD headquarters Tuesday were chaplains with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team.
Richard Brown was leading the Rapid Response Team. He spent more than 20 years as a policeman in Wake Forest and joined other retired officers offering prayer.
“Officers get up every morning and their plan is to go home at night and like what we saw yesterday, four officers didn’t go home," Brown said. "We’ve just been here to talk to officers as they come by and offer support and prayer.”
Mental health advocates say maintaining a routine, eating well, and seeking counseling can help officers and those in the community to cope.
“It can be very, very traumatizing. It can cause a significant amount of anxiety, depression, and in some people even feeling as if, 'why wasn’t it me as opposed to somebody else' -- survivor's guilt," Dr. James Rachal, a psychiatrist with Atrium Health, said. "Make sure you’re doing things to take care of yourself, even if you’ve got children or other loved ones to take care of, you need to be at your best.”
Fonda Bryant provides mental health resources to CMPD recruits. The work is a personal passion, after nearly losing her life to suicide.
"If it hadn’t have been for a hero, I wouldn’t be here -- my Aunt Spankie," Bryant said. "When she saved my life, I wanted to turn around and help other people.”
In addition to officers, she said those in the neighborhood where the shooting took place and even those viewing the images on TV may be affected.
"It’s a very natural thing to be upset. It’s traumatic for the people that lived in the neighborhood. I urge everybody to seek help," Bryant said.
Investigators say it will take the community coming together to heal.
"The healing is going to be long. It’s going to be tough, but I think if we stay together we can get through this," Ronald Davis, Director of the US Marshals Service, said.
Contact Kayland Hagwood at khagwood@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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