CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte first responders are holding events this month to remember the four law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty last year.

Doctors and nurses at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center held a blood drive Monday to honor Thomas Weeks, Sam Poloche, Alden Elliott and Joshua Eyer, members of a U.S. Marshals Service task force that set out to arrest a fugitive who opened fire on them April 29, 2024.

While giving blood is nothing new for first responders, this blood drive was special.

What You Need To Know

  •  Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center held a blood drive Monday to honor four officers killed April 29, 2024, in a shootout with a fugitive

  •  The blood drive honored U.S. Deputy Marshal Thomas Weeks, Department of Corrections Officers Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Joshua Eyer

  •  The four were fatally shot while serving a warrant with a U.S. Marshals Service task force

  •  The first responders who organized the event say this is a way to honor those who gave so much

“A simple donation can save or can prolong life,” emergency room nurse manager Kathy Barnard said. “It can do so many things. So if you can donate, and not just when an event happens, even if you just do it throughout the year, it's just something we can have and keep.”

Barnard was working as the nurse manager in the emergency department April 29 when the gunfight erupted. In addition to the four officers killed, four others were wounded.

“The calls start coming in that there's been a shooting in Charlotte, and we might have officers coming in,” she said.

Barnard said they regularly train for major trauma events, but this time was different.

“Nothing can prepare you when our officers are injured,” Barnard said. “We partner with them (for) so many different other things throughout the years. It's almost like it's one of us. They're out in the community protecting us. We're here to save lives. They bring us people. It just felt different.”

It's a sentiment shared by emergency room doctor Kyle Cunningham.

“I would say there's almost a period throughout the day where things, in terms of your emotions, are suspended and that's out of necessity,” Cunningham said. “But it doesn't mean you're not feeling that as it goes on. And then generally it starts to catch up to you later in the day."

He said seeing the community come out to give blood means the world.

“It really helps you feel supported,” Cunningham said. “And recharge your batteries and see the community coming back to remember an event a year afterward, but also understanding that need is ongoing every day of the year.”

Cunningham and Barnard said the biggest takeaway from the event is to donate if you can to ensure first responders have everything they need to take care of trauma victims. 

“It's just more what can we do today that can still honor those we have also today, those that are still with us and those who keep showing up for work,” Barnard said.

Atrium Health partnered with One Blood for the event Monday.

According to One Blood, each unit of blood donated can help save three lives.

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