Austin Thompson: 15-yr-old 'baby-faced' Raleigh shooter was armed with 'long rifle'
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA: Local police has identified Austin Thompson, 15, as the alleged Raleigh shooter, who went on a rampage killing five people, including his elder brother, James Thompson, 16, three women, and an off-duty cop. The incident that took place on Thursday, October 13, when he gunned down his older brother, along with Susan Karnatz, 49, Nicole Conners, 52, Mary Marshall, 35, and police officer Gabriel Torres, 29, in a residential area northeast of downtown Raleigh. The two victims that barely survived are Marcille Gardner, 59, and police officer Casey Clark, 33, who has since been released from hospital while the former is fighting for her life.
Austin’s parents Allen Thompson and Elise Thompson hasn’t commented on the killing of their other son James. In the process, he suffered critical injuries, however, it is unclear whether it is self-inflicted or caused by gunfight with the police, as per federal briefing memo. The alleged shooter was treated at Raleigh’s WakeMed, reported WRAL. Those who spotted him, said he "looked like a baby," and was armed with a "long rifle."
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The shooting took place on the street, after which the suspect ran towards the Neuse River Greenway, where he allegedly shot more people. The 15-year-old managed to keep police at bay for hours, before the authorities set up a manhunt across a crime scene stretching for two miles. An elementary school and two community centers were evacuated, before Austin was finally narrowed down in a house, and arrested around 9.40 pm on Thursday, October 13. His motive remains unknown, and it is also not yet clear if he knew his victims. "We don't have answers as to why this tragedy occurred," said Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson, reported ABC 7.
The incident echoed in the White House, and has renewed President Biden's call for ban on assault weapons. “Enough. We’ve grieved and prayed with too many families who have had to bear the terrible burden of these mass shootings. We must pass an assault weapons ban. The American people support this commonsense action to get weapons of war off our streets," said the President, as per Daily Mail.
WRAL was told by several eye witnesses that the gunman was wearing camouflage clothing with black boots, and was carrying a backpack. He was seen crouching down, and seemed to be somewhere between 13 and 16 age group. “He looked like a baby. I just don't even have the words to explain. This is not OK,” one of them said.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper spoke on the incident, “Tonight, terror has reached our doorstep. The nightmare of every community has come to Raleigh. A local resident, Robert said, “I heard two gunshots, and they were really loud so I knew something was close by, and then I heard three other gunshots. I saw him basically pass my house in the backyard. He had a long-barrel shotgun. He was dressed in camo. He had a full backpack on that was also camouflage.”
Mary-Ann Baldwin, Mayor of Raleigh, said the alleged gunman was "contained." However, the police didn’t clear if they can communicate with the killer or whether his condition was stable.