Three marshals and a police officer were killed in a shooting in North Carolina.

Three members of the federal marshals’ task force and a police officer were killed in a shooting in Charlotte, North Carolina. Four more police officers were wounded. They were trying to arrest a weapons suspect, whose name has not been released. They had a corresponding warrant, reports Associated Press.

The group was fired upon as it approached the suspect’s house. Other police officers tried to storm the building to save their colleagues, but at that moment a second shooter opened fire on them.

After a three-hour shootout, law enforcement officers used armored vehicles that rammed the house. The suspected gunman was killed. A woman and a 17-year-old boy were also found in the house. They are being questioned by law enforcement agencies.

“Today we lost several heroes who were simply trying to keep our community safe,” City Police Chief Johnny Jennings said at a news conference. The shooting killed Officer Joshua Ayer, who a few weeks ago was named Police Officer of the Month for April.

US President Joe Biden and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper expressed condolences to the families of the fallen police officers and wished recovery to the wounded.