Update: 2 workers killed as massive fire destroys SouthPark apartment building under construction

Table Of Content

• law enforcement officials killed, 4 injured in Charlotte, North Carolina, while serving warrants
• MORE: Worker unaccounted for following chemical explosion in Newburyport, Massachusetts
• Eight Officers Shot, Four Officers Killed During Investigation
• President Biden visits families of officers killed in Charlotte
• Charlotte leaders confirm two deaths in SouthPark fire, identify cause

There are concerns that the entire structure is unstable and could collapse, the captain said. "We may be talking about more tragedy than ... we're talking about today," Johnson said Friday of the life-threatening situation his firefighters experienced Thursday. "It was a very fast-moving fire [with] high heat conditions well over 2000 degrees. And as a construction site is open, a lot of wood is exposed the fire moved very rapidly," Johnson said. "He got that job, and he was doing real good at it, so I was very, very proud of him," Sherrill's father, Terry Campbell, told WSOC. The family of one of the victims, Demonte Sherrill, 30, told ABC affiliate WSOC that he was one of the deceased men. Another witness spoke to Monreal about what happened when the fire started.

law enforcement officials killed, 4 injured in Charlotte, North Carolina, while serving warrants

In total, eight officers were struck during the gunfire. Three task force officers were pronounced deceased at the hospital. One of the injured CMPD Officers, Joshua Eyer, a 6-year veteran, fought for his life for several hours before succumbing to his injuries.

Firefighters battle large fire at Charlotte business - WCNC.com

Firefighters battle large fire at Charlotte business.

Posted: Fri, 12 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

MORE: Worker unaccounted for following chemical explosion in Newburyport, Massachusetts

Officials believe two people fired at law enforcement, Jennings said. Jennings said the fallen officers were "heroes that were just simply trying to keep our community safe." For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app. 30 firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze in just over an hour, the fire department said.

Eight Officers Shot, Four Officers Killed During Investigation

Johnson said the mostly wooden-frame apartment building caught fire quickly. But Charlotte Fire Department Chief Reginald Johnson said Friday evening that the remains of two workers had been found in the smoldering wreckage. Johnson said their bodies had been sent to the medical examiner's office for identification. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles identified one as Demonte Sherill, a father of four. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police announced multiple road closures in the SouthPark area in a tweet after the fire broke out. A spokesperson for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools told WBTV on Thursday morning that schools had not been impacted by the blaze.

Firefighters called two maydays because crews got trapped or had issues with accessing means of escaping, Johnson said. The Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force is headquartered in Charlotte and comprised of 70 federal, state and local agencies. Fugitive task forces are collaborations between agencies to find and arrest suspects in crimes. A second person then fired on officers from inside the home where a high-powered rifle was found, Jennings added.

construction workers killed in massive fire at Charlotte site

S. Charlotte fire causes more than half million dollars in damage - WBTV

S. Charlotte fire causes more than half million dollars in damage.

Posted: Mon, 22 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

One of the firefighters heard the cries of people trapped on the sixth floor but couldn't see them through the smoke, Johnson said. Construction workers told the Charlotte Fire Department that there are still two construction workers that are unaccounted for. The last marshal shot and killed in the line of duty was in November 2018.

President Joe Biden was briefed on the shooting and spoke with Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles to express his condolences and support for the community. The neighborhood, of one– and two-story, brick homes and small trimmed lawns, is very safe, said Alex Rivera, who lives on a street nearby. Rissa Reign was cleaning her house when she heard the first shots ring out. There was a pause, then a second set of shots and then a third. After the home was cleared, the helicopter pilot said he couldn’t show the front lawn of the home because the scene was too graphic and disturbing. "Your father, your husband, your friend, your neighbor ... and today they're not going home," she said.

Fire officials said crews had several "maydays," which means crews were either trapped or had access issues when escaping. In total, 15 workers were rescued from the site and no firefighters were injured. Another company of firefighters battled dangerous flames in order to successfully rescue a worker trapped atop a construction crane. Before that worker could climb down, firefighters brought him "protective equipment" to help him manage the intense heat of the crane and its ladder during his descent. Firefighters were trying to reach the two trapped construction workers, but firefighters had to declare their own "mayday" during the rescue attempt.

Police shared the same information, saying an officer will complete a missing persons report. They asked family to provide the person’s full name, date of birth, physical description and a recent photo. WSOC-TV said their helicopter captured an armored vehicle driving through yards and knocking over recycling bins before officers removed a person with blood on their shirt who was then loaded into an ambulance. The Marshal’s Service confirmed one of its agents was killed. Two officers from the state Department of Adult Correction also were killed, said North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper. The governor was in Charlotte and was speaking to the families of the officers killed and hurt.

The task force was made up of officers from multiple agencies, who often team up to find and arrest suspects. Those killed included two veteran officers of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott. As they approached the house, Mr. Hughes opened fire, striking several officers, the police said.

By 6 p.m., Fairview Road was reopened during the congested evening commute. Anyone missing a loved one after the fire is asked to call 911 to speak with a police officer. — A five-alarm fire near the SouthPark Mall in south Charlotte broke out Thursday, causing a massive first responder presence to fight it. The fire spread to construction across the street and a number of nearby rooftops, which were all put out by the fire department, Johnson said. Two people were found dead in Charlotte, North Carolina, Friday in the aftermath of a five-alarm fire, officials said. We’ve been advised to stay away from the SouthPark area until further notice and residents who live nearby, please stay inside.

When he stepped out of the house, holding a gun, officers judged that he posed an “imminent deadly threat” and shot him, the police said. The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction identified two of the task force officers killed as Sam Poloche and Alden Elliot. "We mourn for them and their loved ones. And we pray for the recoveries of the courageous officers who were wounded," the president said in a statement. He also called for more funding for law enforcement and for Congress to do more to combat gun violence.

Four members of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department were also shot, one of whom died from his injuries on Monday night, the police said on social media. The officer who died, Joshua Eyer, had been helping other officers arrest the suspect when he was shot, the police said. Eight officers were wounded during the shootout and taken to hospitals. Three were pronounced dead on arrival, and another died from his injuries on Monday night.

WCNC Charlotte is committed to reporting on the issues facing the communities we serve. We tell the stories of people working to solve persistent social problems. We examine how problems can be solved or addressed to improve the quality of life and make a positive difference. We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of the two people who were missing in the construction fire that took place yesterday.

This is the worst thing that can happen in our industry and there are no words that can express the emotions we are experiencing from this loss. A construction supervisor told WCNC Charlotte one of his employees working on the site, 60-year-old Ruben Holmes, has not been seen or heard from since the fire. Both of the victims were officially identified by the Charlotte Fire Department on Tuesday. Fire investigators have confirmed the fire began accidentally. The fire was started by a trailer that was spraying insulation material as part of the construction efforts. Johnson said the firefighters could not see the trapped men but "were going by sound and trying to get to them."

A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police sergeant was on the task force but was not struck by gunfire, Jennings said. The sergeant called for backup, and that's when the four responding Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers were shot, Jennings said. A crane operator spotted two people working on windows and tried to swing a basket over to them to help, but the smoke and fire made the rescue too difficult. Channel 9 has not confirmed that Demonte Sherrill and the other construction worker were those two people. The crane operator, among the 15 people rescued by firefighters, was treated by local EMS for non life-threatening injuries and taken to a hospital, fire officials reported.