A mother of 3 boys, a wife and cherished sibling: Woman mourns loss of her sister killed in Raleigh mass shooting
Family, friends and the community continue to mourn the five people who lost their lives in last week’s mass shooting in an east Raleigh neighborhood.
On Oct. 13, Susan Karnatz was out on a run along the Neuse River Greenway Trail. Authorities found her dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds around 5:19 p.m., according to the Raleigh Police Department’s five-day report released Thursday. She was 49.
Sharon Kaivani, who lives in the Atlanta area, said her sister ran nearly every day along the greenway. Karnatz was 5.1 miles into a 7-mile run.
“We share locations on [the] phone,” Kaivani said. “Her location was what was being focused on in the news.”
Kaivani said she texted her sister nearly every day. She said the entire family tried reaching Karnatz. No one heard back.
“For an hour or two, we were hoping she was hiding or dropped her phone,” Kaivani said of her sister.
Kaivani recalled her last communication with her sister.
“My last communication to her was, ‘Hey, if you can, tell us where you are,’” Kaiavani said. “Of course, she never responded.”
Karnatz’s husband, Thomas Karnatz Jr. was working from home on Oct. 13, Kaivani said.
“When terrible things happen, one thinks what you could have done to prevent it, but this should have been safe,” Kaivani said. “It was light outside, residential path in Raleigh.
“There is nothing we could have warned her about, really.”
Karnatz leaves behind three boys ages 10, 13 and 14. She homeschooled each of them, Kaivani said.
“First and foremost, she was family oriented,” Kaivani said of her sister.
Kaivani said her sister enjoyed reading and learning foreign languages.
“She was an interesting, fun, gentle, happy person,” Kaivani said. “It was mundane run-of-the-mill things. A text [saying], ‘How are you doing? what are the kids doing?’”
Kaivani explained how she wanted her sister to be remembered.
“She should be remembered for her love of family, her gentleness with all creatures, her ability to squeeze every joy out of life she could,” Kaivani said.
Remembering Susan Karnatz
On Saturday morning, the North Carolina Roadrunners Club will remember Karnatz during a special observance at its 15th annual ATT 10-Miler and 4-Miler on the American Tobacco Trail. Races start at 8:50 a.m. at 1305 White Oak Church Road in Apex.
Karnatz was a devoted member of the NC Road Runners Club. There are already more than 500 people who have signed up to participate in Saturday’s races.
Saturday's morning event plans to have a moment of silence in Karnatz’s honor. Event planners will also encourage runners, race volunteers and guests to sign condolence cards for the family.
A celebration of Karnatz’s life is set for 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at North Raleigh Presbyterian Church, 11905 Strickland Road in Raleigh. In lieu of flowers, the family asks to consider a donation to causes Karnatz loved.
On Thursday night, Runologie and Pine State Coffee hosted a special run to stand against gun violence and support Moms Demand Action. The group ran for the victims of last week’s mass shooting.
