CHARLOTTE, N.C. (NEWSnet/AP) — Three law enforcement officers serving a felony warrant were killed and five other officers were wounded Monday in a shootout at a home in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Two officers from the state Department of Adult Correction were killed, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said.

The third officer confirmed dead Monday evening was from the U.S. Marshals Service, the agency reported on social media.

 

Shots were fired at the officers by the wanted suspect as they approached the suburban home in Charlotte and they killed him in the front yard, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said at a news conference.

A second person then fired on officers from inside the home where a high-powered rifle was found, Jennings added.

A woman and a 17-year-old male were found in the home after a three-hour standoff that included armored vehicles crashing into the suburban home in a tree-lined neighborhood and tearing off doorways and windows. The two are being questioned, Jennings said.

“Today we lost some heroes who were out simply trying to keep our community safe,” Jennings said.

After a three-hour standoff, a suspect was found dead in the front yard and two other people at the home are being questioned, Jennings said. Authorities said two shooters were involved.

One other member of a task force, which is made up of federal agents and other officers from across the region was injured.

Four Charlotte-Mecklenburg officers who responded to the scene were also shot while trying to rescue the wounded officers. One of them remains in critical condition, Jennings said.

 

Nearly two hours after the shooting started, police said the scene was still unsafe and promised an update with more information “as soon as the situation stabilizes.”

During the situation and immediate aftermath, many roads in the area including Interstate 77 were closed so ambulances could get to hospitals faster. TV footage showed ambulances speeding to hospitals escorted by vehicles both in front and behind with their sirens wailing.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said he was in contact with law enforcement in Charlotte and offered any state resources to help.

Authorities did not immediately specify the nature of the task force operation or what it was doing at the time gunfire erupted.

NEWSnet will continue to update this developing story.

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