Report: Hedingham mass shooting suspect shot 16-year-old first, had shotgun, handgun and knife
The Raleigh Police Department on Thursday released its five-day report about last week's mass shooting in an east Raleigh neighborhood.
Sources tell WRAL News that Austin Thompson opened fire in the streets of the Hedingham neighborhood and on the adjacent Neuse River Greenway on Oct. 13 when five people were shot to death, including his 16-year-old brother, James Thompson. According to the report, James Thompson was shot first.
The report states the 15-year-old suspect was found wearing camouflage clothing with a shotgun, a handgun, a large hunting knife and several types of ammunition
The report did not specify how the gunman acquired the weapons used on Oct. 13. The collective motive for these attacks is still unknown, the report states.
Click or tap here to view the report.
The report states Raleigh police officers fired 23 rounds, which were fired in the direction of the "barn-like structures" where the gunman shot at officers. After the exchange of gunfire, officers kept a perimeter around the barn-like structure for the safety of the nearby community.
According to the report, two Raleigh police officers were placed on administrative duty for firing their weapons, which is standard procedure for the department.
The Raleigh Police Department will also petition for the release of the recordings of three officers, which capture the officer-involved shooting.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is conducting a criminal investigation of the actions of the officers, their use of force and will present a completed investigation ot the Wake County District Attorney for review.
On Thursday, Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said four Wake County sheriff's deputies fired weapons on Oct. 13.
"There are just going to be some questions we are not in a position to answer right now, but certainly looking at how he came into possession of these weapons will be part of this investigation, and ultimately, will be part of the prosecution if we're able to move forward," Freeman said.
WRAL News asked the attorney for Austin Thompson's parents, Alan and Elise Thompson, who owned the weapons. The attorney responded, "I'll be in touch with you when I can."
Earlier this week, WRAL News also reached out to the sheriff's office, but has not heard back.
Officers gave repeated commands for the gunman to come out of the building with his hands up, according to the report. Officers used tactical equipment to identify the suspected gunman's exact location and the weapons he had inside the building.
At about 9:34 p.m., officers advanced toward the building, where they found the teen lying on the ground. The report states he "appeared to be suffering from a single gunshot wound."
It is unclear whether the 15-year-old's gunshot wound was self-inflicted or if it came from police.
Authorities believe the victims were shot in the following order: James Thompson, Marcille Gardner, Nicole Connors and her dog, Officer Gabriel Torres, Mary Marshall, Susan Karnatz, and Officer Casey Clark.
The seven victims ranged in age from 16 to 60.
Those who died were:
- An off-duty Raleigh police officer, Gabriel Torres, 29, who was on his way to work when he was shot
- James Thompson, 16, a junior at Knightdale High School
- Mary Marshall, 34
- Nicole Connors, 52
- Susan Karnatz, 49
Clark, 33, was treated and released from the hospital.
Gardner, a special education teacher who just turned 60, remains at WakeMed. She is expected to have numerous surgeries ahead.
At 5:09 p.m. on Oct. 13, the Emergency Communications Center received its first call for service about multiple shots fired near the golf course in the Hedingham neighborhood, the report states. The first officers began to arrive in the neighborhood at 5:19 p.m., according to the report.
The five-day report is released as a method of transparency between police and the community.
The preliminary report provides a better idea of what police believe happened and what they have discovered so far in the investigation.
On Wednesday, former Raleigh police officer and current criminal defense attorney Lee Turner explained how some of the key findings could describe the weapons used, details about the exchange of gunfire between police and the suspected shooter, the names of officers involved and any details about dash or body camera worn at the scene. Five-day reports typically provide a detailed narrative and timeline of events.
"The five-day report is generally very fact-based with no type of assumptions or no type of loose ends," Turner said. "They’re going to give you a report that’s going to be what they know absolute, 100%, to provide what they can tell you at this point in time."
Many people are anxious to learn the motive of the Hedingham shooting, but Turner said it’s likely too soon for a motive to be released as long as Austin Thompson, the 15-year-old suspect, is still in the hospital and unable to answer questions.
Elise Thompson, Austin's mother, told WRAL her son was moved Monday night to the pediatric intensive care unit. He had previously been listed in critical condition.
Elise and Alan Thompson said there were no warning signs of what their son was capable of.
Turner said he feels the way in which Raleigh police handled the emergency was quite impressive.
“It was amazing," Turner said. "I was watching [WRAL's] coverage that night, I was talking to people and you on the phone - to hear what was going on and to think about the position these officers were in, they were very fortunate that nobody else got injured or was hurt afterwards.”
Memorial services planned this week
The first memorial service for one of the five victims killed in Raleigh's mass shooting will take place Thursday.
A celebration of life is planned for James Thompson at 7 p.m. Thursday at Trinity Baptist Church at 4815 Six Forks Road. The service will not be livestreamed.
Details on other memorial services can be found here.
