The teenager who shot and murdered five people in a North Carolina neighborhood on Thursday had a head wound, according to police.
Austin Thompson, age 15, first murdered his 16-year-old brother James Thompson and his neighbor Nicole Connors. Afterward, he allegedly shot Susan Karnatz, 49, Mary Marshall, 35, and off-duty police officer Gabriel Torres, 29.
Thompson fled the scene of the violence and holed himself in a barn six miles from his residence for several hours.
Before he was arrested, Thompson reportedly had a life-threatening injury.
According to Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson, Austin is in critical condition with several injuries at WakeMed Health and Hospitals. If Thompson survives, she anticipates that he will be prosecuted as an adult.
Patterson stated, “Considering the large number of lives lost, it is proper that this case be handled in Superior Court and that this individual be prosecuted as an adult.”
Sami, Connors’s dog, was also murdered by the gunman.
A neighbor informed the News & Observer that Thompson was spotted carrying a bookbag early in the morning on occasion.
Lavarius Thompson, an unrelated neighbor, remarked, “I used to see him about 4:30 or 5 a.m. with a backpack.” Before 7 a.m., there are no bus services.
Neighbors reportedly reported that Thompson lived with his father, a handyman who frequently assisted with jobs.
Other classmates of the shooter in the Hedingham neighborhood told WRAL that they did not see any warning signs previous to the shootings.
A buddy of Torres placed a 911 call.
“He belongs to you! He begged the operator, “He’s a police officer!”
He informed them that Thompson was driving a “white automobile” and carrying a “shotgun.”
Austin also shot Marcielle Gardner, 59, and Casey Clark, a police officer. They both survived, but Gardner is in critical condition at the hospital.
The Thompson family has not yet commented.
His murderous rampage spurred President Biden to repeat his support for an assault weapons prohibition.
‘Enough. Too many families have had to face the horrible weight of these mass shootings, and we have wept and prayed with them.
“A ban on assault weapons must be passed. The American people embrace this sensible measure to remove weapons of war from our streets,’ he stated.
Robert Steele, Marshall’s companion, stated in a devastating post, “The love of my life was murdered last night by a coward.” She was shot during a walk with our dog.
I have no idea what to say. I have no idea what to do. My entire universe has been devastated.
Tom, the husband of Karnatz, made this devastating Facebook post: “We had tremendous plans together.
And we had minimal joint plans. Together, we planned for both grand vacations and the boring days in between.
We had made plans with the boys.
And we had shared ambitions as empty nesters. We had made plans to age together. Constantly together. These proposals have now been abandoned.
“We have many nice memories together. And we have few shared memories. Together, we have memories of joyful times. And memories of simple moments in between.
“We share recollections from before the boys were born.”
And memories, many memories with the guys.
Forever and always, memories together.
His motivation is still unknown, and it is unclear whether he knew his victims.
Witnesses informed WRAL that they spotted the shooter crouching in camouflage gear with a backpack and black boots, and that he was between 13 and 16 years old.
‘He looked like a baby. I simply lack the vocabulary to express. This is unacceptable.
The gunfire occurred in the street. The gunman then fled along the trail, where he shot some of the victims, before taking refuge in a barn.
The governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper, stated, “Tonight, terror has hit our doorstep.” The nightmare of all communities has arrived in Raleigh.
Robert, a neighborhood resident, stated, “I heard two gunshots that were so loud that I knew something was nearby, and then I heard three more gunshots.”
I essentially seen him pass by my property. He held a shotgun with a long barrel. He was clad in camouflage. He was carrying a big load that was camouflaged.
The tranquil community is comprised of single-family houses and golf courses.
Raleigh’s mayor, Mary-Ann Baldwin, stated that the man was “contained,” but police would not confirm whether they could talk with him, and his condition remains unclear.
WRAL aired footage of the situation, which showed the off-duty police officer’s automobile riddled with bullet holes.
Baldwin stated that it was a sad and awful day for Raleigh.
The visibly distraught mayor said, ‘Today is a horrible day, as Raleigh police have lost one of their own.’
She stated that additional measures must be taken to curb gun violence.
“We must end this senseless violence in the United States.” We must confront gun violence. There is much to be done, and tonight there is much to lament.’
The governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper, hailed law enforcement for their efforts and added, “This is a pointless, infuriating, and horrifying act of violence against our community.”
According to ABC 11, there was a standoff with a suspect locked in a barn.
According to the station, a drone was dispatched inside the barn in an attempt to talk with the suspect, but the drone malfunctioned.
At around 5 p.m., a massive emergency reaction began to arrive on the area.
“The Raleigh Police Department is now on the scene of an active shooting along Osprey Cove Drive and Bay Harbor Drive near the Neuse River Greenway,” the force tweeted.
It is urged that residents of the region remain in their houses.
Patterson stated that the gun violence in Raleigh reflects national patterns.
She stated, “I believe people are on edge in the aftermath of a pandemic.”
I believe that mental health difficulties are also contributing to this issue. I concur with the challenges we face as a nation: the war in Ukraine, inflation, and gas prices.
All of these factors combined, I believe, result in people resolving their arguments or problems with gun violence rather than pausing, stepping back, and then re-approaching the matter.