A teenage suspect who police allege killed in a shooting that left five people dead, including an off-duty police officer, in Raleigh, North Carolina, is in critical condition, officials said Friday morning. The latest: Wake County District Attorney Lorraine Freeman told Axios Friday that citations have been filed against the suspect, but her office is seeking to have the case sent to superior court, where the teenager will be tried as an adult.
That all depends on the suspect’s condition, however, which Freeman’s office is closely monitoring. “A 15-year-old white suspect” was taken into custody and is in critical condition, Police Chief Estella Patterson said at a news conference. Police have not named the suspect, but have identified four of the five victims. The five people who died in the shooting are Nicole Conners, 52; Susan Carnage, 49; Mary Marshall, 35; Raleigh Police Officer Gabriel Torres, 29? and a 16-year-old white male. A police officer who was injured in the shooting has received first aid and has been released from the hospital. Another person who was injured remains in hospital in critical condition, police said.
Details: Lt. Jason Borneo, of the Raleigh Police Department, said in a briefing late Thursday that a juvenile male suspect, whom he did not name, was taken into custody at 9:37 p.m., and there was no further threat to the community.
Borneo said a police officer who responded to the shooting near a public road was taken to a local hospital, along with another victim. The officer was released, but the other victim remained in critical condition.
Leading the story: Raleigh Police Department officials tweeted just before 6 p.m. that officers were responding to a shooting in the area of the Neuse River Greenway, a popular bike path for Raleigh residents northeast of downtown, and urged residents to “remain in their homes”.
Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said at a briefing Thursday afternoon that at least two people were taken to a local hospital, including a responding officer. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Charlotte confirmed it was among several law enforcement agencies that responded to the shooting.
What they’re saying: President Joe Biden said in a statement Friday that there have been “too many mass shootings across America,” referring to the attacks in Buffalo and Uvalde since the beginning of the year.
“Enough,” he said. “We have mourned and prayed with so many families who have had to bear the terrible weight of these mass shootings. Too many families have had spouses, parents and children taken from them forever.” Biden also praised first responders in his statement, adding that his administration and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper will work with local authorities to investigate the shooting. “Tonight terror arrived on our doorstep,” Cooper said at Thursday night’s briefing. “Every community’s nightmare has come to Raleigh. “We all have many questions, but as we search for answers to those questions, let’s all pray for these victims, their families, the communities that have been shocked by this, and that we all depend on each other and help each other another during this. difficult time,” Cooper added.
The big picture: Thursday’s shooting in Raleigh was the deadliest in North Carolina this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
There have been more than 500 mass shootings this year in which at least four shooting victims have been killed or injured in the U.S., according to the nonprofit group.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
