A juvenile suspect is in custody after a shooting leaves 5 dead, at least 2 wounded in Raleigh, North Carolina, police say
By Aya Elamroussi and Andy Rose, CNN
(CNN) -- A 15-year-old suspect is in custody after five people were killed and at least two others were wounded in a mass shooting Thursday in Raleigh that North Carolina's governor called a "moment of unspeakable agony."
One of the victims killed was an off-duty Raleigh police officer, Gabriel Torres, 29, who was on his way to work, authorities said.
Officials offered few details about what happened but said the crime scene extended over two miles on neighborhood streets and a greenway. It ended after a long standoff during which the shooter was critically wounded.
The other fatalities were identified as Nicole Conners, 52; Susan Karnatz, 49; Mary Marshal 35; and James Roger Thompson, 16.
A police officer who was injured has been released from a hospital and another victim, Marcille Lynn Gardner, 59, is in critical condition, according to Raleigh Police Chief Estella D. Patterson.
"My heart is heavy, because we don't have answers as to why this tragedy occurred," Patterson said.
Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, who joined police and city officials at a news conference Friday, called the rampage an "infuriating and tragic act of gun violence."
"It was a complex mission, in a short amount of time, to stop the shooter," said Cooper, praising the police response.
"We're sad. We're angry and we want to know the answers to all the questions," Cooper added. "Those questions will be answered. Some today and more over time. But I think we all know the core truth: No neighborhood, no parent, no child, no grandparent, no one should feel this fear in their communities."
Raleigh police spokesperson Lt. Jason Borneo identified the suspected shooter as a White juvenile male, and police have not released any other details about him.
The suspect was moved to a hospital after being taken into custody, CNN affiliate WRAL-TV reported. Officials did not say the extent of the suspect's injuries. CNN has reached out to the hospital for further information.
The shooting began just after 5 p.m. in the neighborhood of Hedingham near the Neuse River Greenway, officials said. A manhunt ensued as authorities worked to apprehend the suspect.
Police "contained" the suspect around 8 p.m. inside a residence in the area, Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin told reporters Thursday.
Helicopter footage from WRAL-TV showed more than a dozen emergency vehicles lined up on a road through a wooded area.
A woman who was at the Hedingham Golf Club driving range said an "unending stream of police" drove by the area.
"A golf pro came out to tell us to shelter inside or leave ASAP," she told CNN. "They were very calm, but I could tell something was wrong, so we left right away."
The suspect was taken into custody before 9:40 p.m. Thursday, police said.
Baldwin, joined at the news conference Thursday by other officials including Cooper, expressed her frustration at the heart-wrenching gun violence that infiltrated her city.
"Today has been a very difficult day in our city. We pray that something like this will never happen here. It did," Baldwin said.
The mayor emphasized the widespread of gun violence must be stopped. "We have work to do, but there are too many victims," she said.
"We have to wake up. I don't want other mayors standing here at the podium, with their hearts breaking because people in their community died today, needlessly and tragically."
There have been at least 531 mass shootings -- including Thursday's in Raleigh -- in the US so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The organization, like CNN, defines a mass shooting as one in which at least four people are shot, excluding the shooter.
Cooper echoed the mayor's sentiments and called for prayers for the victims and the community.
"Tonight, terror has reached our doorstep. The nightmare of every community has come to Raleigh," Cooper said. "This is a senseless, horrific and infuriating act of violence that has been committed."
Both Cooper and Baldwin praised the multi-agency response to the shooting, with Cooper saying law enforcement officers ran to "an active shooter who was ready to kill people."
Law enforcement is anguished by the killings, including that of a fellow officer, Borneo said.
"For the Raleigh Police Department, every officer is a brother or sister, so when we lose one of our own, it is a tragic, heartbreaking day for all of us," Borneo said.
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