President Biden will visit families of law enforcement killed in Charlotte shooting

President Joe Biden on Wednesday evening announced plans to travel to Charlotte Thursday to honor the law enforcement officers killed in a mass shooting.

The president’s daily schedule says he’ll be at Charlotte Douglas International Airport around midday to “pay his respects to the brave law enforcement officers killed and wounded in the line of duty in Charlotte on Monday.”

“The President will meet with families of the fallen heroes, the wounded law enforcement officers, and other law enforcement officers and elected officials,” the president’s daily guidance for reporters states.

From there, Biden plans to travel to Wilmington for a previously scheduled event. Gov. Roy Cooper plans to be with Biden at both events, according to his public schedule for Thursday.

WSOC-TV, The Charlotte Observer’s media partner first reported Biden’s plans to visit the Queen City on Thursday, though the White House wouldn’t immediately confirm reports.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said called the officers “heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice,” during Wednesday’s news briefing.

“Obviously we pray for them, we pray for their families and others who were injured as a result of this senseless violence.” Jean-Pierre said. “We’ll continue to keep them in our prayers.”

Biden’s visit would come after four officers were killed and several more were injured during a warrant service in east Charlotte on Monday. Around 1:30 p.m., the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force went to serve a warrant on Galway Drive when they were met with gunfire.

A U.S. Marshal, two officers from the N.C. Department of Adult Corrections and a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer were killed. Four others sustained injuries.

Twelve officers are on administrative leave, which is standard protocol, after firing their service weapons in an attempt to disarm the suspect and help their colleagues.

The exchange of gunfire killed 39-year-old Terry Clark Hughes Jr. who was wanted for possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of felony flee to elude out of Lincoln County.

Biden had already announced plans to visit North Carolina on Thursday when the shooting broke out. His visit to Wilmington was scheduled to highlight his Investing in America agenda and discuss rebuilding infrastructure and creating good paying jobs.

Late Monday evening, Biden called on members of Congress to do more to enhance gun policies in the U.S. in order to prevent further mass shootings. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed that sentiment from the Senate Floor Tuesday taking a moment to recognize Charlotte’s loss.

Biden is making visiting the state a priority ahead of the 2024 election.

Daniel Desrochers contributed to this report.

This story was originally published May 1, 2024 at 11:31 AM with the headline "President Biden will visit families of law enforcement killed in Charlotte shooting."

Daniel Desrochers

The Kansas City Star

Daniel Desrochers was the Star’s Washington correspondent. He covered Congress and the White House with a focus on policy and politics important to Kansas and Missouri. He previously covered politics and government for the Lexington Herald-Leader and the Charleston Gazette-Mail.

Danielle Battaglia

McClatchy DC

Danielle Battaglia is the D.C. correspondent for The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer, leading coverage of North Carolina’s congressional delegation and elections. She also covers the White House. Her career has spanned three North Carolina newsrooms where she has covered crime, courts and local, state and national politics. She has won two McClatchy President’s awards and numerous national and state awards for her work.