Austin Thompson, 15, was brought to the hospital and is suspected of killing five people and injuring two more in Thursday’s shooting in an east Raleigh area, according to WRAL News sources. Follow For More Updates on our website or Google News: newsyorbits
One of the victims was Austin’s brother, James Roger Thompson, a junior at Knightdale High School and 16 years old. According to the school yearbook, Austin is a sophomore.
Friday at 8:30 a.m., Police Chief Estella Patterson reported that the 15-year-old shooter was in critical condition at WakeMed. According to sources, the shooter was Austin Thompson, the brother of James Roger Thompson, 16, who was one of the five victims.
Classes are held on Friday, but the Friday night homecoming football game is shifted to Monday at 6:30 p.m. On October 28, more back-to-school festivities will take place.
Sources and property records indicate that the brothers resided on Sahalle Way in the Hedingham region. Friday about 5 p.m., a solitary residence was still present, encircled by crime scene caution tape. Throughout the day, investigators departed the residence with evidence bags. Neighbors who are classmates of the suspect told WRAL News that they did not notice any warning signs prior to Thursday’s shooting.
Chief of Police of Raleigh, Estella Patterson, stated that the first bullets were fired on neighborhood streets before the attacker fled onto the News River Greenway, where other persons were shot. During the hour-long hunt, law enforcement agents tracked Austin Thompson to an outbuilding six miles from his residence and arrested him.
Patterson reported that Austin Thompson’s condition at WakeMed was critical. According to sources cited by WRAL News, Austin Thompson sustained many injuries, including a gunshot wound to the head.
If Thompson survives, despite his age, Wake County District Attorney Lorraine Freeman expects him to be charged as an adult. “Because of the significant number of fatalities, this matter should be taken before the High Court, and this individual should be charged as an adult.”
In the riots, five people were murdered and two were injured, but the date is uncertain. The victims are 29-year-old Raleigh Police Officer Gabriel Torres, the suspect’s brother James Thompson, 52-year-old Nicole Connors, 34-year-old Mary Marshall, and 49-year-old Susan Kanats.
The gunman must be between 13 and 16 years old, according to witnesses who saw him. “He was a youth. You simply cannot imagine such a scenario. You’ve heard of school shootings and similar incidents, but seeing something similar in your neighborhood is quite shocking.”
Neighbors were awestruck. Robert, a resident of Hedingham, told WRAL News that he dialed 911 at 5 p.m. “I heard two really loud gunshots, so I knew something was approaching, and then I heard three more,” he stated. “I observed him passing by my residence in the backyard. He held a shotgun with a long barrel. He was disguised in camouflage. In addition to his disguise, he was carrying a large pack.”
