A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer has died from injuries he sustained while trying to secure a SWAT stun grenade in his Mint Hill home.

Officer Fred Thornton, a 28 ½-year CMPD veteran and a 23-year member of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, died after surgery at Carolinas Medical Center.

According to a CMPD spokeswoman, Thornton had assisted with a SWAT warrant earlier in the day and had returned home. At approximately 5:35 p.m., Mint Hill Fire and Rescue responded to a call for service at his home on Tinkerton Court and found Thornton suffering from life-threatening injuries.

Investigators believe Thornton was injured while trying to secure a stun grenade he had carried in the earlier operation.

“Members of CMPD have been with Officer Thornton’s family at CMC throughout the evening and are heartbroken over the loss of a veteran member of their family,” said the spokeswoman, Officer Rosa Harrington.

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