Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, North Carolina
End of Watch: Friday, February 25, 2011
Age: 50
Tour of Duty: 28 years
Badge Number: 415
Cause of Death: Explosion
Date of Incident: February 25, 2011
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Officer Fred Thornton was killed when a flash-bang device detonated as he handled SWAT equipment.
He had just returned home following a SWAT call out to serve a warrant and was attempting to render his equipment safe when the Def-Tec 25 flash-bang discharged, causing massive injuries. Investigation determined that while at the scene of the SWAT deployment Officer Thornton removed the device's safety pin in preparation for using it. It is believed that he was attempting to reinsert the pin when the device detonated.
He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Officer Thornton had served with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for 28 years. He is survived by his wife and four children.