Four law enforcement officers were tragically killed and four others wounded during a shootout at a residence in North Carolina while serving a warrant for a felon wanted for firearm possession.

Amidst the chaos, additional officers rushing to assist were also injured by a second shooter. The intense standoff lasted for three hours before armored vehicles breached the suburban home.

The suspect, who was wanted for illegally possessing a weapon, was killed in the front yard.

Inside the residence, another individual fired at officers, and upon clearing the scene, a woman and a 17-year-old male were found and are being questioned, the Associated Press reported.

Among the casualties were an agent from the U.S. Marshals Task Force, two officers from the state Department of Adult Correction, and a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer named Joshua Eyer, who succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

The incident highlights the dangers law enforcement officers face while striving to protect their communities.

Written by B.C. Begley