WASHINGTON, D.C. — A fugitive task force trying to execute an arrest warrant in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday ended in the deadliest day for U.S. law enforcement with a single incident since 2016.
Four officers were killed and another four were injured after the suspect began shooting from an upstairs window, sparking a gun battle with task force officers. More officers responded as backup and were also struck by gunfire, authorities said.
At least three officers from the original task force were killed — a deputy U.S. marshal and two officers from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction — as well as an officer from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
The task force is one of dozens led by U.S. Marshals who track down fugitives and issue hundreds of arrest warrants across the U.S. every day. Here’s a look at how they operate and how they take on the task of tracking down and arresting some of the most dangerous suspects:
Federal law enforcement agencies often work with local police across the country in task forces, usually teams of law enforcement officers from different agencies who work together on investigations in a specific area, such as drugs, terrorism or gangs.
The US Marshals Service is the primary federal agency charged with tracking down fugitives, and their task forces are typically focused on finding people wanted on criminal arrest warrants. They also often take the lead in searching for a known suspect in a high-profile crime or finding escaped prisoners.
There are nearly 4,000 Deputy U.S. Marshals, and they work with more than 3,500 officers from departments across the country in dozens of fugitive task forces, including local and regional efforts. It’s a mutually beneficial setup: local police bring manpower and in-depth knowledge of an area, while federal law enforcement has access to additional resources. Working with federal law enforcement agencies can also involve greater authority and more serious federal charges.
An assignment to a federal task force is often a full-time job that requires rigorous training and qualifications, said Mark Lomax, a consultant and former executive director of the National Tactical Officers Association.
While serving as a major in the Pennsylvania State Police, Lomax had several troopers assigned to federal task forces, including the U.S. Marshals.
“They are very, very professional. This is what they do. “If you’re going after bad guys, really, really bad characters, that’s who you want there, the marshals,” Lomax said. “They are trained for it. They are equipped for that. They have the mentality. They are the best of the best. And that also applies to the members of the task force. They choose people who meet their requirements, undergo a lot of training and are matched with staff.”
Officers are typically assigned to federal task forces for at least a few years, although the duration varies by location and agency, said Anthony Cangelosi, a lecturer at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a former deputy U.S. Marshal in New York City.
U.S. Marshal task forces typically look for people who have been charged with a crime but are on the run or have failed to appear in court.
Investigators are looking for their last known addresses, their friends and family, credit card use — anything that could point to where they are, Cangelosi said.
“You’re just trying to find something that can locate that person,” he said.
Operations like the arrest warrant being served in Charlotte don’t happen without planning, Lomax said. Reconnaissance and surveillance form a large part of the work. Once task force members are confident they have found a viable location for a fugitive, there are sometimes even practice exercises.
“They are working informants. They do their due diligence, talk to family members and friends, and nowadays there is a lot of technology involved,” he said. “Once they have identified where the individual may be, they will monitor and provide information and have sufficient staff and equipment to deal with that situation.”
Lomax said this may involve keeping an eye on a home to see if there are children or dogs or other factors to consider, especially if a weapon is involved.
“They may even go to a parking lot or other area and practice how they plan to enter or approach and figure out the best approach,” he said. “They do a lot of homework. But no matter how much planning and preparation you do, you don’t know what the person on the other side of the door is going to do. Even if you know they could be armed and you prepare, you can’t prepare for everything.”
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Lauer reported from Philadelphia.