Who are the Raleigh mass shooting victims?
Sources tell WRAL News Austin Thompson, 15, opened fire in the streets of an east Raleigh neighborhood and on an adjacent greenway on Oct. 13, 2022, and five people were shot to death, including his older brother.
The seven victims ranged in age from 16 to 60. Those who lost their lives were: an off-duty Raleigh police officer, Gabriel Torres, 29, who was on his way to work when he was shot; James Roger Thompson, 16, a junior at Knightdale High School; Mary Marshall, 34; Nicole Connors, 52, and Susan Karnatz, 49.
Raleigh police officer Casey Clark, 33, was treated and released from the hospital. Marcille "Lynn" Gardner, a special education teacher who had just turned 60, was seriously injured.
Who they were, how to support Raleigh mass shooting victims and families
Officer Gabriel Torres
Officer Gabriel Torres, 29, was on his way to work when he was shot and killed Oct. 13. Back the Blue NC started a GoFundMe page in honor of the Raleigh officer.
Torres leaves behind a wife and a daughter. Raleigh Mayor Mary Ann Baldwin told WRAL News she talked with the widow of Gabriel Torres. “I think that is the hardest thing I have ever had to do," said Baldwin. "She was heartbroken and in tears.”
The Raleigh Police Department established a memorial for the fallen officer at 218 West Cabarrus St. People who wish to support his family can email supportRPD@raleighnc.gov.
- State moves to add benefits for first responders killed on way to work
- Family of Raleigh officer killed in Hedingham shooting receives mortgage-free home
Susan Karnatz
On Oct. 13, 2022, Tom Karnatz and his wife, Sue, did what they would do on most days – they went for a run on the Neuse River Greenway near their east Raleigh home. They set off in opposite directions, an hour apart.
When Tom Karnatz got home, his wife had not yet returned. He worried, he texted.
He calls telling their three boys that their mother has been killed "the single toughest thing I had to do."
As they mourned Karnatz's loss, friends knew they wanted to do something. They decided to #RunForSue. Some of them logged 5.1 miles, the distance she'd reached before her death. Others posted 1.9 miles, finishing the journey she started.
Mary Marshall
Mary Marshall was chasing her dog in the Neuse River Greenway. She called her fiancé for help, and he her shots ring out over the phone.
They had planned to marry in October 2022. Instead, family and friends held a celebration of her life.
A GoFundMe campaign helped to pay for her memorial and funeral.
Her fiancé Rob Steele, wrote, "This woman was my everything … she meant so much to me and her parents and sister."
Nicole Connors
Tracey Howard is the husband of the late Nicole Connors, who was among the five people killed. The couple was married five years.
“She was fun-loving,” Howard said. “A firecracker at sometimes. She would tell you what’s on her mind.”
Howard recalled what happened on Oct. 13 when he got back to the house after running errands. “I got the porch [and saw] Nicole,” Howard recalled. “[I] could see it in her eyes [that] she was not with us anymore."
Howard said Connors was shot in the face, neck and stomach. Connors worked as an HR specialist and loved dogs. She died alongside her Jack Russell mix, Sami.
Lynn Gardner
A friend set up a GoFundMe for Lynn Gardner, who was injured while visiting a neighbor during the Hedingham shooting.
"To know Lynn is to love her," the post read. "She is a special and unique person in her positivity and generosity. Let's return that generosity and help take care of Lynn as she fights to overcome this tragedy."
James Roger Thompson
James Thompson, Austin Thompson's brother, was a junior at Knightdale High School.
In his online obituary, family members wrote, "James had many interests and particularly enjoyed deep sea fishing, playing Upward Basketball and various games on his PS4. He enjoyed visits to his grandmother’s house, amusement parks, sporting events and trips to the beach and mountains."
A celebration of life will be held for James on Thursday, Oct. 20, at Trinity Baptist Church at 4815 Six Forks Road in Raleigh.
The Hedingham community remembers
What began as a small memorial outside of the Hedingham neighborhood in east Raleigh grew to include five 10-foot crosses – representing each person killed – posters with messages, a large mural, photos and hundreds of bouquets and candles
Words from caring neighbors written on posters offer encouragement to the living to "Stay Strong" and keep those who passed away "Forever in our hearts."
Muralist Roberto Marquez, a native of Dallas, Texas, had been helping with flood relief in Florida, but when he heard about the deadly shooting in Hedingham, he packed his materials in his truck and came to Raleigh to paint a piece of hope for the community.
"I wanted to kind of take the opportunity to come and see if I could be part of the healing process," said Marquez. "I always like to share my paint brushes and they come in, they have their own ideas and this will not be just my piece, but it will be the community's."
The mural transformed as he learned more and more about the victims. There are five coffins on his mural, each symbolizing one of the victims.
He chose bright colors to represent light. He also made the crosses that sit at the memorial.
He hopes the colors, symbols and shapes can offer hope light and healing.
The mural was moved into the community athletic center where is remains year-round.
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.
