President Joe Biden visits with NC families of officers killed in Charlotte shooting
President Joe Biden traveled to Charlotte Thursday to honor the law enforcement officers killed in a mass shooting.
The president’s daily schedule announced he’d be at Charlotte Douglas International Airport around midday to “pay his respects to the brave law enforcement officers killed and wounded in the line of duty in Charlotte on Monday.” He arrived around 1:10 p.m. and left Charlotte at 3:30 p.m. for an event in Wilmington.
Earlier in the week, Biden called on Congress to direct more funding to law enforcement and pass tougher gun regulations after the shooting.
The following are updates from the president’s visit, starting with the most recent:
CMPD chief thanks Biden for visit
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings thanked the president for visiting Charlotte in post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Thursday evening, calling this “one of the toughest weeks” in CMPD’s history.
“I have been so overwhelmed by the outpouring of support this entire week ... to know that we have the support of our country all the way up to the highest office means so much,” he said.
Jennings added that he’d been able to speak with three of the officers injured in Monday’s shooting.
“As we continue to heal, I ask that you keep the men and women of CMPD in your prayers,” the post concluded.
Biden leaves CLT airport
Biden ascended back into Air Force 1 just after 3:20 p.m., this time with Gov. Roy Cooper in tow.
He made no comments or remarks to media after meeting with families of the fallen and injured officers.
Biden and N.C. officials met while reporters were brought to a nearby classroom in the Aeromedical Evacuation Training Facility from about 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
None of the federal, state or local leaders made remarks to media before leaving. Jennings declined to discuss his time with the president and families, but a department spokesperson anticipated more information would be released Thursday evening.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department posted on Twitter immediately after the visit that Biden met with families of officers killed and three injured officers. The president “shared thoughts on the heroic actions our officers took on Monday and every day,” CMPD said.
This afternoon, @POTUS stopped by Charlotte to visit the families of the fallen officers and three of our injured officers from the tragic event on Monday. He shared thoughts on the heroic actions our officers took on Monday and every day. Their service and sacrifice can never be… https://t.co/vDsP83mgM3
— CMPD News (@CMPD) May 2, 2024
Biden meets with families of slain officers
Biden at 1:17 p.m. shook Gov. Roy Cooper’s hand, then Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. He took off his sunglasses off to address Jennings.
He addressed a group of five local and state leaders before being whisked away to meet the families of officers slain Monday.
At 2:45 p.m., 14 people exited Air Force 1 holding white bags with a White House seal.
Biden lands at CLT airport
Cooper, Lyles and Jennings, accompanied by a squad of Secret Service vehicles, approached Air Force 1 at 1:11 pm to welcome President Biden to Charlotte
President Joe Biden has landed in Charlotte, where he is expected to meet with the families of the law enforcement officers killed in this week’s east Charlotte shooting. @theobserver pic.twitter.com/sSjWey6Utr
— Mary Ramsey (@mcolleen1996) May 2, 2024
Others who greeted Biden at the airport included:
Ronald Davis, U.S. Marshals Service director
Todd Ishee, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction Secretary
Col. Lisa Kirk, vice wing commander, 145th Airlift Wing, Charlotte Air National Guard Base
SMSgt Thomas Lazaroski, fire chief, 145th Airlift Wing, Civil Engineering Squadron, Charlotte Air National Guard Base
Who’s traveling with Biden to Charlotte?
The White House says the list of people traveling to Charlotte with Biden also includes:
Environmental Protection Administrator Michael Regan, the former secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality.
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre
Senior Advisor Anita Dunn
Deputy Chief of Staff Natalie Quillian
Other advisors, including North Carolina native and UNC Charlotte grad Tori Taylor
Aboard Air Force 1, Jean-Pierre told reporters Biden believes “we must do more to protect our law enforcement officers. That means providing them with the resources they need to do their jobs and keep us safe, and it means taking additional action to combat gun violence and prevent future tragedies.”
CLT airport flights will be delayed
Biden is now expected to arrive at 1:10 p.m. instead of 12:50 p.m.
Flights out of the airport are expected to be held for about 15 minutes before the president arrives and 10 minutes after he lands.
Traffic impacts of President Joe Biden’s visit
While official visits to Charlotte by the president, vice president or candidates often mean road closures or traffic delays for motorists across the city, impacts may be minimal Thursday.
Biden’s schedule doesn’t show travel to other locations in Charlotte. He’s scheduled to have closed meetings at the airport with families of those killed and wounded Monday.
“The President will pay his respects to the brave law enforcement officers killed and wounded in the line of duty in Charlotte on Monday,” the president’s daily schedule states. “The President will meet with families of the fallen heroes, the wounded law enforcement officers, and other law enforcement officers and elected officials.”
Gov. Cooper is set to join Biden in Charlotte.
Biden’s event in Wilmington is set to begin at 4:30 p.m.
