Hedingham first responders meet in Raleigh to remember mass shooting, heal
On Saturday, despite the rain, the city of Raleigh hosted a “Raleigh Healing Together” community day in Nash Square from 10 a.m. to noon to honor emergency workers, including medical staff at WakeMed, 911 call center teams, police officers and others.
The occasion marked the heroism of first responders on one of the city’s most harrowing days, when over 400 law enforcement officers and first responders answered the call of duty.
On Oct. 13, 2022, five residents of Raleigh were shot and killed in the Hedingham neighborhood and along the Neuse River Greenway. The search for the shooter lasted hours, with thousands sheltering inside their homes as police swarmed the area along the river.
Those who died were an off-duty Raleigh police officer, Gabriel Torres, 29, who was on his way to work when he was shot; Nicole Connors, 52; and Mary Marshall, 34, and Susan Karnatz, 49, who were shot along the greenway.
Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson on Saturday said the overwhelming response from her own officers and from agencies around the state made a difference in ending the violence.
"I am most proud," she said. "Know that when RPD officers arrived to Hedingham, within a few minutes of the initial calls, the killing stopped. No other lives were lost at that time."
Dispatchers, fire chiefs and doctors from WakeMed were also honored on Saturday, sharing memories of that dark day.
"For the next hours we listened to the pain and angst of officers on the radio," described Duana Dailey, a 911 supervisor.
"I remember thinking to myself, could this really be the event that puts all my years of training to the test? And it was," said Battalion Chief Brian Sherrill of the Raleigh Fire Department.
"Everybody is a little bit more tentative," said Dr. Pascal Udekwu, WakeMed's trauma medical director. "You hear nurses who worry about their kids going to school. And all of this really drives us towards community."
The focus on Saturday wasn’t just on what happened in Raleigh a year ago, but instead, on what the city has done to prevent future gun violence and help keep the community safe.
Tables lined the outside of the municipal building directed people towards community groups focused on stopping the violence, helping the community heal and better responding to emergencies.
"Hedingham was hard for everybody," said Cecile Williams, a social worker with the Raleigh Police Department's ACORN mental health division. "And we want the community to know that we are here to support whatever their needs are."
Raleigh mass shooting suspect to be tried as an adult
Investigators believe the rampage started inside a home on Sahalee Way, where the teen suspect, Austin Thompson, allegedly killed his older brother, James Thompson, 16.
Austin Thompson is also charged with attempted murder and other charges for injuries to Raleigh police officer Casey Clark and Marcille "Lynn" Gardner. His father, Alan Thompson, was cited for storing a firearm in a manner accessible to a minor.
Those who wish to share their condolences with the families of the victims can send messages to:
Raleigh Healing Together
P.O. Box 590
Raleigh NC 27602-0590
Get help
In the wake of tragic and traumatic events, feelings like stress, anxiety, grief and depression are natural. Here is a list of crisis counseling and county-by-county resources in North Carolina, as well as nationally. These resources are available for you -- just call.
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