Raleigh mass shooting suspect’s family says ‘never had any signs or warning signs’

The parents of the 15-year-old boy suspected of killing five people, including a police officer, on a nature trail in Raleigh, N.C., said there were “no signs or warning signs” and that their son “was capable of do anything” like this. “

“Words cannot describe our pain and grief,” Allen and Elise Thompson said in a statement released Tuesday. “Our son Austin has caused immeasurable pain to the Raleigh community and we are saddened by the innocent lives lost. Our hearts go out to Nicole Connors, Susan Kanats, Mary Marshall and Raleigh police officer Gabriel Torres Family and loved ones pray. We mourn their passing and the passing of our son James.”

“Our prayers go out to Marcille ‘Lynn’ Gardner and Raleigh Police Officer Casey Clark to fully recover from their injuries, and our prayers go out to all those traumatized by these senseless acts of violence,” they continued. “We have a lot of unanswered questions.” There has never been any indication or warning that Austin is capable of doing something like this. Our family will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement officials and do everything we can to help them understand why and how this happened.”

The 15-year-old was in life-threatening custody after a confrontation with police last Thursday following the shooting, according to a memo released by the Department of Homeland Security and obtained by ABC News. It was unclear whether the suspect’s injuries were self-inflicted, the memo said.

Photo: Law enforcement officers at the scene of the shooting in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Oct. 10.  January 13, 2022.

Law enforcement officers at the scene of the shooting in Raleigh, North Carolina. January 13, 2022.

Travis Long/The News & Observer via AP

Photo: Law enforcement officers stand at the entrance to the Neuse River Greenway Trail parking lot on Abington Lane after a shooting in Raleigh, North Carolina. December 13, 2022

Law enforcement officers stand at the entrance to the Neuse River Greenway Trail parking lot on Abington Lane after a shooting in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Oct. 10. January 13, 2022.

Ethan Hyman/AP News & Observer

Photo: Crime scene tape is seen on Sahalee Way in the Hedingham community of Raleigh, North Carolina, on Oct. 10.  January 15, 2022.

On October 10, a crime scene videotape was seen on Sahalee Way in the Hedingham community of Raleigh, North Carolina. January 15, 2022.

Veasey Conway/The New York Times via Redux

A law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told ABC News that as of Sunday, the teen, who has not been named by authorities, was in a critical and life-threatening condition in the hospital. Detectives believe responding officers fired at the suspect and are following a firing protocol involving officers, the official said.

Among the victims was 29-year-old officer Gabriel Torres, who was shot and killed on his way to work, according to Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson. Torres, a former Marine, is a husband and a young daughter, according to ABC’s WTVD.

The other four were identified as Nicole Connors, 52; Susan Kanats, 49; Mary Marshall, 34; and James Roger Thompson, 16.

Two other people were injured in the shooting near the Neuse River Greenway Trail, authorities said.

Raleigh public information officer Julia Millstead told ABC News that Chief Patterson will submit a five-day report to city managers Thursday that will include a detailed overview of the shooting.

Millstead said the report will include details of the suspect’s injuries and the type of weapon used in the shooting.

ABC News’ Darren Reynolds, Julia Jacobo, Meredith Deliso, Morgan Winsor and Emily Shapiro contributed to this report.

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