Weeks was one of four law enforcement officers tragically killed in a shootout at a suspect's residence in Charlotte last week.
Kelly Weeks spoke with a heavy heart about the man responsible for her husband's death, 39-year-old Terry Clark Hughes Jr. "This tragedy was the result of someone who did not have any regard for human life," she stated. Hughes was killed at the scene after fatally shooting Weeks, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) Officers Sam Poloche and William "Alden" Elliott, and CMPD Officer Joshua Eyer on April 29.
The officers, all members of a USMS fugitive task force, were attempting to serve a warrant at Hughes' Galway Drive home when the incident occurred. Four additional officers were injured in the process. According to North Carolina Public Records and CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings, Hughes had an "extensive" criminal record.
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Two other individuals, both females, one of whom is a minor, were taken into custody following the incident. Investigations are ongoing to ascertain if others were involved in the shooting. Authorities recovered an AR-15 rifle, a 40-caliber handgun, magazines, and ammunition from Hughes' residence. Over 100 rounds were fired during the shootout, as per Jennings.
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Kelly Weeks, now a widow and a single mother to four children, spoke passionately about her husband's dedication to justice. "Tommy's mission in life was to make the world safer and fight for justice," she said. She called for unity and support for law enforcement officers, urging people to show respect and gratitude towards them.
She fondly remembered her husband as a devoted family man, always protective and loving. "I woke up every single day to a man telling me he loved me, ‘You’re the most beautiful woman,’ ‘How lucky I am to have you.’ What he didn’t realize is I was the lucky one," she shared.
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Weeks, a 13-year veteran of the Marshals Service, had been stationed in Charlotte since 2014. He began his career in law enforcement in Washington, D.C. in 2011 and spent eight years with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
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Attorney General Garland, in his address, shared a touching anecdote about a phone call he had with Kelly Weeks. He had called to offer condolences, but was surprised when she asked how she could support the Marshal Service and the Justice Department during this difficult time.
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Nicole Parker, a former FBI agent with Miami's Violent Fugitive Task Force, echoed Kelly Weeks' sentiments. She urged Garland and the Department of Justice to establish more robust protocols for arrests and takedowns. She compared the recent incident to a similar one in February 2021, where two FBI agents were killed while serving a warrant. Parker emphasized the need for respect for law enforcement officers and called for changes to prevent such tragedies in the future.
President Biden visited Charlotte last week to meet with the families of the fallen officers and CMPD members. In a statement, he stressed the need for more resources for law enforcement and called for stricter gun control measures. "Leaders in Congress need to step up so that we ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require safe storage of guns and pass universal background checks and a national red flag law. Enough is enough," he said.
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