Man who fatally shot 4 officers had ‘extensive criminal history,’ police chief says
The man who fatally shot four law enforcement officers and wounded four others in east Charlotte on Monday had been convicted of crimes across the state, a Charlotte Observer review of public records shows.
Terry Clark Hughes Jr., 39, spent time in prison in 2011 and 2013, according to N.C. Department of Public Safety records.
In all, Hughes faced 49 criminal charges since 2001, court records show.
In Mecklenburg County, he was charged with misdemeanors and felonies in recent years, including felony manufacturing marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to sell or deliver in 2021. The latter charge was dismissed earlier this month, according to court records.
FROM MONDAY: Four law enforcement officers killed, 4 wounded serving warrant in east Charlotte home
Still, at a news conference Tuesday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said Hughes may not have been known to officers as particularly dangerous when they went to serve him warrants.
Hughes fired at least 100 rounds from a high-powered rifle at officers who were outside the home he was in, Jennings said. Hughes was in an upstairs room during the standoff, the chief said.
“Not that I’m aware of,” Jennings said in response to a question from the Observer about whether CMPD officers were familiar with Hughes.
“Each (CMPD) division has individuals that they obviously encounter quite a bit and that they know of. I do know he had an extensive criminal history. I do not know the familiarity the division officers had with him, how long he lived at that residence, so I don’t have that answer for you today.”
The Observer left messages Tuesday morning with family members of Hughes, but had yet to hear back from anyone by Tuesday afternoon.
PHOTOS: Scene from east Charlotte where multiple law enforcement officers killed
In a press release Monday, CMPD said Hughes was wanted for possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of felony fleeing to elude out of Lincoln County.
The Charlotte Observer could not confirm those charges but did identify others.
Hughes had a warrant for his arrest from charges in Person County, near the Virginia border.
According to Person County court records, Hughes pleaded guilty to felony breaking and entering in 2010 and served about five months in prison.
In 2021, he was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of marijuana between a half ounce and 1.5 ounces, Person County records show.
He never showed up to court during his scheduled hearing last year, triggering the warrant.
Hughes also had two orders for his arrest for missed court appearances in Mecklenburg County. One followed his failure to appear on a charge of fleeing to elude arrest and the other stemmed from his failure to appear for possession of marijuana with intent to sell or deliver, court records show.
Hughes had a slew of other charges dismissed. Charges that were dismissed in Mecklenburg County include manufacturing marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell or deliver, possession of marijuana paraphernalia and driving with a license revoked - all from 2021.
Asked at the news conference if Hughes should have been freed, Jennings said he could cite “hundreds of examples of people who should not be out preying on our citizens. And I’ve been pretty vocal about that, particularly with juveniles.
“I will say the system is not completely where it needs to be,” Jennings said. “But we have so many people involved, we’re overwhelmed. We’re overwhelmed in the court system. I don’t have an answer.
“But I can tell you that I am focused on holding people accountable for the crimes they commit, whether that means incarceration, probation or a fine.”
Two women, one age 17 and one an adult, were in the home during the standoff. They were taken to a police station on Monday for questioning.
On Monday, after the incident unfolded, Jennings said information indicated that there may have been two shooters inside the house. But on Tuesday, he said it appeared that Hughes was the sole shooter.
