Charlotte's 'Tunnels to Towers' honors four officers killed in 2024 shootout (2025)

OFFICIALS. APRIL 29TH MARKS ONE YEAR SINCE A CHARLOTTE POLICE OFFICER AND THREE U-S MARSHALS FUGITIVE TASK FORCE OFFICERS, WERE KILLED IN A SHOOTOUT WHILE SERVING A WARRANT THIS MORNING. 1800 PEOPLE SCALED THE STEPS OF BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM TO HONOR THEM AND THE SACRIFICE OF OTHER MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM. OUR JOSHUA DAVIS IS IN CHARLOTTE WITH HOW THIS EVENT IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR THE VICTIMS, FOR THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS. THE MOTTO FOR TUNNEL TO TOWERS IS LET US DO GOOD. SOMETHING THAT’S BEEN ON THE MIND OF EVERY PERSON CLIMBING THE STEPS HERE AT BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM. IT’S HARD FOR ME TO EXPRESS TOO MUCH EXCITEMENT FOR EVENTS LIKE THIS. HOWEVER, I NEVER WANT TO MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR MY BEST FRIEND. 1800 THAT’S HOW MANY PEOPLE GATHERED FOR THE TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION’S EIGHTH CHARLOTTE CLIMB, HONORING THE LIVES AND SACRIFICE OF ALTON ELLIOTT, JOSHUA AYER, SAMUEL PEPLOWSKI, AND THOMAS WEEKS JUNIOR FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS KILLED IN A SHOOTOUT IN CHARLOTTE ONE YEAR AGO. HOW DO YOU PLAN FOR SOMETHING THAT IS SO TRAGIC? THE BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM TEAM, AND THEY WANTED TO INVITE US TO HOLD ANY TYPE OF ANNIVERSARY EVENT HERE. SO WE QUICKLY THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE. AND WE WERE ABLE TO TO PAIR UP WITH THE TUNNEL TO TOWERS ORGANIZATION. DRESSED IN EVERYTHING FROM SHORTS AND T SHIRTS TO FULL SETS OF FIREFIGHTER GEAR, PARTICIPANTS RAN THROUGH THE STANDS. FRANK SILLER OF THE TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION, HAS SPENT TIME WITH THE FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN OFFICERS, RAISING MONEY TO PROVIDE THEM AND THE FAMILIES OF OTHER FALLEN OFFICERS AND MILITARY MORTGAGE FREE HOMES. HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THEY’RE NEVER ALONE. EVERY DAY WHEN SOMEBODY PUTS ON THEIR UNIFORM. AND THEY DON’T KNOW IF THEY’RE GOING TO COME HOME OR NOT, AND THE FAMILY KNOWS THAT. THAT DESIRE ECHOED BY EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP FOR THE CLIMB, THEIR LIFE WAS ON THE LINE. THINKING ABOUT THAT. EVERY TIME I GO UP WAS DEFINITELY GOING THROUGH MY MIND. CARRYING HEAVY GEAR AND WHAT THEY DID FOR A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE DID TODAY. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF WE NEED HELP, THE FIRST THING THAT WE’RE DOING IS WE’RE PICKING UP THE PHONE, DIAL 911. THOSE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER END THAT ARE COMING TO THE PROBLEM. THAT’S WHO WE NEED TO BE SERVING. THAT’S WHO WE NEED TO SAY THANK YOU TO. CHARLOTTE POLICE SAY THE INCREDIBLE TURNOUT TODAY IS PROOF THAT THEIR CITY IS BEHIND THEM, SOMETHING THEY’LL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL FOR. IN CHARLOTTE, I’M JOSHUA D