CHARLOTTE, N.C. — We continue to learn more about Terry Clark Hughes Jr., the suspect in Monday's deadly shooting that saw four law enforcement officers die and five others injured.
We do know he has a lengthy criminal history. In May of 2021, he was arrested on marijuana charges and fleeing and eluding police but was released. Lots of people are questioning why he was released.
When Hughes was picked up on several charges of possession of marijuana and fleeing and eluding police he was released just hours after he was locked up. Many, but not all, of those charges were also dismissed.
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The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office booked Hughes on seven different charges in 2021, including possession of marijuana, paraphernalia, and fleeing arrest.
"In Mecklenburg County, those are considered very low-level charges. They have very low bonds or unsecured bonds, so you are just waiting for them to be processed through, and so you would be released waiting for trial for your date," Lee said.
Also, in 2021, Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather told WCNC Charlotte that, in an effort to prosecute more homicides and violent crimes, his office would no longer prosecute most marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine possession cases.
"With 100 homicides a year, I do not have time to carry those (drug) cases for two-and-a-half years, and I think most people would agree on that," Merriweather said.
Since Hughes had also recently faced several other charges in other counties, some are wondering if those were taken into account when he was released so quickly.
"In the grand scheme, we know now in hindsight how bad it could be. It's so unforeseeable -- people miss court dates every day, and the Mecklenburg County District Attorney's office has a policy of not prosecuting basic marijuana charges," Lee said.
Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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