CHARLOTTE — President Joe Biden landed in Charlotte on Thursday afternoon to meet with the families of officers who were killed in an ambush this week in east Charlotte.
>> How to support families of the fallen officers
The president was in Charlotte for two hours as he privately met with families of the fallen officers and other people impacted by Monday’s tragedy.
Three members of a U.S. Marshals fugitive task force, deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks, North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections workers Sam Poloche and William “Alden” Elliott, were killed while serving a warrant at an east Charlotte home. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Officer Joshua Eyer was critically wounded before he died at the hospital Monday.
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Air Force One touched down at Charlotte Douglas International Airport Thursday and was greeted by Gov. Roy Cooper, Mayor Vi Lyles, CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings, and U.S. Marshals Director Ronald Davis.
Because the meeting was private, details about what exactly happened are limited right now. Everything took place at the Air National Guard base at the airport. Channel 9 was told Biden was meeting with families of the fallen officers, the injured officers and other elected leaders.
On his way to Charlotte, the press secretary told reporters the president believes more needs to be done to protect law enforcement officers. She said that means providing them with the resources they need to do their jobs and keep us safe. She also said it means taking additional action to combat gun violence and prevent future tragedies.
The President was already planning to be in North Carolina. After his meeting with families, he went to Wilmington to deliver a speech on replacing lead pipes to improve drinking water. But first, he talked about his visit to Charlotte and said the nation mourns the fallen officers.
“Every time an officer puts on that shield and walks out the door, families members don’t want to get that call,” Biden said. “The entire nations grieves these families.”
Biden did not go into specifics about what was shared during his meeting.
Chief Jennings thanked the president for visiting and also thanked the nation for its support.
The pilot who flew Air Force One on Thursday was Jeff Gosselin, who was a member of the 2000 and 2001 North Meck Cross-County State Championship teams.
(WATCH: Police not looking for any more suspects in deadly officer ambush)
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