ATF, U.S. Marshals arrest suspect in illegal gun purchase connected to 2024 shooting that claimed the lives of four law enforcement officers

WASHINGTON - The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with support from the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested Natasha Renee Gibbs, 42, on Sept. 28, in Dallas, Texas, for her alleged role in illegally purchasing a firearm for convicted felon Terry Clark Hughes Jr. Hughes used that firearm during the April 29, 2024, shooting in Charlotte that killed multiple law enforcement officers.

"Purchasing or providing a firearm for someone prohibited from possessing one is far more than a paperwork violation," said ATF Director Rob Cekada. It is a serious act and a flagrant disregard for the law that can place a weapon in the hands of someone who should never have had it in the first place. As this case tragically demonstrates, the consequences can be devastating."

"Nearly two and a half years later, the families of all four fallen law enforcement officers we lost that day are still carrying that grief, and so are we. The United States Marshals Service will forever mourn the loss of Deputy U.S. Marshal Tommy Weeks, N.C. Department of Adult Correction Officers Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Officer Joshua Eyer," said U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces Serralta. "This arrest reflects the determination of every investigator and partner agency who refused to let this case go. Straw purchasers, and those who aid and abet them, share responsibility for what prohibited persons do with the firearms they help put in their hands. We will keep working alongside our partners to deliver accountability for Tommy, Sam, Alden, Joshua, their families, and the community."

Gibbs is charged with knowingly making false or fictitious statements during the acquisition of a firearm from a licensed dealer and illegally transferring firearms. These offenses carry potential penalties of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

The investigation determined that Gibbs purchased firearms that Hughes later possessed before opening fire on members of a U.S. Marshals Service Task Force serving a federal warrant. The shooting resulted in the deaths of four law enforcement officers:

• Officer Joshua Eyer, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
• Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks Jr.
• Officer Sam Poloche, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction
• Officer Alden Elliott, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction

ATF Special Agents and U.S. Marshals Deputies arrested Gibbs in Dallas. Gibbs is expected to appear later this week in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

"The firearm used in this crime was illegally and intentionally purchased and put into the hands of a deadly criminal," continued Cekada. "ATF follows the gun, pursues the evidence, and holds accountable those responsible. We owe that to Officer Joshua Eyer, Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks, Officers Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott, their families, and every officer who serves."

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ATF protects American communities from violent crime driven by the illegal use of firearms, explosives, and acts of arson. Through crime gun intelligence, forensic analysis, and relentless investigation, we identify and arrest violent offenders and gang members, dismantle trafficking networks, and sever the supply chains arming cartels, prohibited persons, and terrorist organizations. We defend the rights of law-abiding citizens by safeguarding lawful commerce and upholding the Constitution of the United States. Learn more about what ATF is doing to reduce violent crime in your community by following us on X @ATFHQ, Instagram @ATFHQ, LinkedIn @ATF, and Facebook @HQATF, or on the web at www.atf.gov .