FBI seeks person of interest in May 30 ‘mortar attack’ on Charlotte-Mecklenburg cops
The FBI is now assisting in the search for a “person of interest” in the May 30 explosives attack that left a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer with second degree burns and temporary loss of hearing.
Photos of a man wanted for questioning were released Friday by the Charlotte Division of the FBI.
Investigators are asking for help identifying the man, who is shown dressed in black and carrying a backpack as he walks through a parking garage.
The incident happened on during a civil rights protest in uptown and involved “a soda-can sized mortar,” CMPD said in a Facebook post. Video shows the device was tossed into a group of officers standing outside an uptown office building, and it exploded before they could move.
FBI investigators have described the explosive as “a firework-type mortar” and say more than one person may have been involved.
“The mortar exploded and struck an 11-year veteran of the CMPD,” according to a CMPD release. “This third-generation cop’s clothing caught fire, he sustained second-degree burns, was struck in the face and arm with shrapnel, and lost hearing for two days.”
The police officer has not been identified and CMPD has not given an update on his condition.
CrimeStoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information in the case. Tips can be made to the FBI in Charlotte at 704-672-6100 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
At least a dozen officers have sustained injuries that required medical treatment during 13 nights of civil rights protests in Charlotte, most of which were peaceful marches and demonstrations. CMPD has reported many of the injured officers were hit with rocks or exploding devices like fireworks.
The protests were prompted by the Memorial Day death of George Floyd, an African-American, while he was in the custody of the Minneapolis Police. He died after now-fired Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, as three other officers didn’t intervene.
This story was originally published June 12, 2020 at 5:48 AM with the headline "FBI seeks person of interest in May 30 ‘mortar attack’ on Charlotte-Mecklenburg cops."