Fugitive task forces face dangerous scenarios every day. Here's what to know about how they operate.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — A fugitive task force attempting to serve a warrant Monday in Charlotte, North Carolina, ended in the deadliest day for U.S. law enforcement in a single incident since 2016.

Four officers were killed and four more were wounded after the suspect began firing from an upstairs window, starting a shootout with task force officers. More officers responded as backup and were also struck by gunfire, authorities said.

At least three officers on the initial task force were killed — a deputy U.S. Marshal and two officers with the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction — as well as an officer with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

The task force is one of dozens led by the US Marshals that find fugitives and serve hundreds of warrants every day around the U.S. Here's a look at how they operate and how they take on the task of finding and arresting some of the most dangerous suspects:

Federal law enforcement agencies often work with local police around the country on task forces, which are typically teams of law enforcement officers from different agencies working together on investigations in a specific area such as drugs, terrorism or gangs.

The U.S. Marshals Service is the primary federal agency tasked with tracking down fugitives, and their task forces are typically focused on finding people wanted on criminal warrants. They also often take the lead when searching for a known suspect in a high-profile crime or finding escaped prisoners.

There are nearly 4,000 deputy U.S. Marshals, and they work with more than 3,500 officers from departments around the country on dozens of fugitive task forces including local and regional efforts. It's a setup that can benefit both sides: local police bring manpower and deep knowledge of an area, while federal law enforcement has access to additional resources. Working with federal law enforcement can also bring expanded authority and more serious federal charges to the table.

An assignment to a federal task force is often a full-time job that requires rigorous training and qualifications, said Mark Lomax, a consultant and former executive director of the National Tactical Officers Association.

When Lomax served as a major in the Pennsylvania State Police, he had several troopers assigned to federal task forces, including with the U.S. Marshals.

“They are very, very professional. This is what they do. When you are going after bad guys, really, really bad characters that’s who you want there, the marshals,” Lomax said. “They are trained to do it. They are equipped to do it. They have the mentality. They are the best of the best. And that includes the task force members. They pick individuals who meet their requirements, and they go through a lot of training and are matched with personnel.”

Officers are usually assigned to federal task forces for at least a couple years, though the duration varies by location and agency, said Anthony Cangelosi, a lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and former deputy U.S. Marshal in New York City.

U.S. Marshal task forces are usually looking for people who have been charged with a crime, but are out on the run or have failed to appear in court.

Investigators are looking for last known addresses, their friends and family, credit card usage — anything that might point to where they are, Cangelosi said.

“You're just trying to find anything that could locate that individual,” he said.

Operations like the warrant being served in Charlotte don't happen without planning, Lomax said. Reconnaissance and surveillance is a large part of the work. When task force members are sure they have found a viable location for a fugitive, there’s sometimes even practice drills.

“They are working informants. They are doing their due diligence, talking to family members, friends, and nowadays there’s a lot of technology involved,” he said. “Once they have identified where the individual may be, they will surveil and do intel and have sufficient personnel and equipment to be able to address that situation.”

Lomax said that may involve watching a house to see if there are children or dogs or other factors that need to be considered, especially when there’s a weapon involved.

“They may even go to a parking lot or other area and practice how they plan to enter or approach, figure out the best approaches,” he said. “They do a lot of homework. But no matter how much planning and preparation you do, you don’t know what the person on the other side of that door is going to do. Even if you know they could be armed and you prepare, you can’t prepare for everything.”

Lauer reported from Philadelphia.

Multiple law enforcement vehicles respond in the neighborhood where several officers on a task force trying to serve a warrant were shot in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 29, 2024. (Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez/The Charlotte Observer via AP)

Members of FBI talk with each other at the scene of a shooting on Galway Drive in Charlotte, N.C., on Monday, April 29, 2024, Multiple law enforcement officers were shot while serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm. (Khadejeh Nikouyeh/The Charlotte Observer via AP)

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings pauses to compose himself during a press conference in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, April 30, 2024, regarding a shooting that killed four officers during an attempt to serve a warrant on April 29. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Debris surrounds a home, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, where a shootout between a suspect and officers occurred on Monday, in Charlotte, N.C. Police say a shootout that killed four law enforcement officers and wounded four others began as officers approached the home to serve a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte firefighters from Engine 7 bring flowers to a flag-covered Charlotte-Mecklenburg police vehicle at the North Tryon Station in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, April 30, 2024, where Charlotte-Mecklenburg Officer Joshua Eyer was stationed. Police in North Carolina say a shootout that killed several law enforcement officers, including Eyer, and wounded others began as officers approached a home on Monday to serve a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

This combo of undated images provided by law enforcement, shows, from left, Sam Poloche and William Elliott of the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Officer Joshua Eyer; and Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks. The four officers were killed and four others were wounded, Monday, April 29, 2024, in suburban Charlotte, as they approached a home to serve a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm. (North Carolina Department of Corrections (2), Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, US Marshals Service via AP)

BURTON, Englan (AP) — Marcus Rashford was left out of England's provisional squad for the European Championship on Tuesday.

The Manchester United striker has paid the price for a disappointing season at club level and was not part of Gareth Southgate's 33-man squad.

Jordan Henderson and Reece James were also left out.

“These are difficult calls, you are talking about players who are very good players who have been an important part of what we have done," Southgate said. “With Marcus, I feel players in the same area of the pitch have had better seasons, it’s as simple as that."

Rashford was arguably the biggest name to be omitted - especially after enjoying a career-best campaign two season’s ago when scoring 34 goals for club and country.

It has been a different story over the past year when he has managed just eight goals for a United team which suffered its lowest-ever Premier League finish - eighth.

The squad will eventually be reduced to 26 players on June 8, with the Euros kicking off in Germany on June 14.

Rashford's United teammate Kobbie Mainoo was selected after an outstanding breakthrough season and Chelsea forward Cole Palmer was also included.

Palmer was likely one of the forward options Southgate referred to when explaining Rashford's omission after he scored 22 Premier League goals in his first season at Chelsea - a record only bettered by Erling Haaland.

Henderson and James were also notable omissions.

Former Liverpool captain Henderson misses out after his decision to leave Anfield for the oil-rich Saudi Arabian league last year, while James’ absence comes on the back of an injury-plagued campaign for Chelsea.

Henderson has remained a part of England’s set up despite his controversial decision to join Al-Ettifaq. He left after just six months and completed a move to Dutch giant Ajax, but a muscle injury late in the season convinced Southgate to leave him out.

“Hendo has given himself every chance. The determining factor is the injury he picked up around the last camp. He’s missed five weeks,” Southgate said. “He hasn’t been able to get to the intensity in the games since then.”

James, who missed the Qatar World Cup because of a knee injury, has struggled with his fitness for much of the past season and played only 11 games.

Liverpool's Jarell Quansah and Curtis Jones were called up for the first time, as well as Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.

Southgate said United defender Luke Shaw is “up against it” to prove his fitness after an injury-disrupted season.

“This has been as complicated a group as I can remember picking, and we’ve had quite a few complicated ones,” the England manager said.

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), James Trafford (Burnley)

Defenders: Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

England manager Gareth Southgate during a press conference at St George's Park, Burton upon Trent after England's training squad was announced ahead of Euro 2024 soccer tournament, Tuesday May 21, 2024. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

England manager Gareth Southgate speaks during a press conference at St George's Park, Burton upon Trent after England's training squad was announced ahead of Euro 2024 soccer tournament, Tuesday May 21, 2024. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)