Community Corner
🌱 Remembering Hedingham Victims, Unpacking the Tragedy
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Raleigh.
Good Morning Raleigh,
As I'm sure you are aware by now, Raleigh's news is dominated by the tragic events that took place on Thursday night. The bulk of this newsletter will be unpacking that event and remembering the victims. Other information in this edition includes:
- Red Bull hosting a chariot race in Raleigh.
- Raleigh welcomes TherapyLand, a new facility to help children with mental health services.
- How to submit comments for the October 18 City Council meeting.
But first, today's weather:
Nice with plenty of sunshine. High: 79 Low: 54.
🏡 Attention, real estate pros in Raleigh! We're now offering an exclusive sponsorship opportunity for an agent interested in attracting local clients and standing apart from the competition. Click here to learn more.
Here are the top four stories today in Raleigh:
- The victims have been identified in the shooting that took the lives of five individuals and injured two more on Thursday night. (abc11, The NC Beat, WRAL)
- Gabriel Torres, 29, was an off-duty officer who was on his way to work when he was killed. He previously served as a Marine, and was relatively new to the police force. He was a husband and father to one young daughter.
- Susan Karnatz, 49, was a wife and mother to three children, ages 10, 13, and 14. She enjoyed running and was descri
- Mary Marshall, 34, a Navy veteran, was engaged to be married on October 29, and only 10 days away from her 35th birthday. She was walking her dogs on the greenway when she heard shots, and ran home to warn her fiancé when she was killed. Her family intends to turn what would have been her wedding day into a celebration of life ceremony. (NBC News)
- Nicole Conners, 52, and her beloved dog Sami were both killed while on a walk. One neighbor remembered her saying, " She was friendly with everyone in the neighborhood, spoke with everybody... and was really respected here." Connors' husband says that she was always a caregiver and left her job in human resources to care for her mother after she suffered a stroke. (NBC News)
- James Roger Thompson was a 16-year-old junior at Knightdale High School, and the older brother of the suspect who is in police custody at WakeMed. (CBS17, WRAL)
- Marcille Lynn Gardner, 59, was injured and remained in critical condition as of Friday at WakeMed hospital.
- Casey Clark, 33, is a K-9 officer who was injured while off duty, but has since been treated and released. Des I bed by one of her running buddies as, "truly one of the kindest people I've ever met, and she always had a smile on her face."
- The suspect in the Hedingham shooting has been identified by sources as 15-year-old Austin Thompson who is currently hospitalized in critical condition at WakeMed. Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman says that if he recovers, she will be proceeding with the intent to prosecute as an adult, "in consideration of the mass number of lives lost." Neighbors witnessed the teen dressed in camouflage, carrying a long-barrel shotgun. (CBS17, CNN, WRAL)
- The City of Raleigh announced that the Neuse River greenway between Buffaloe Road and Anderson Point Park will remain closed until further notice. Raleigh Chief of Police Estella Patterson said that the initial shooting occurred in the streets of Hedingham before the shooter went onto the greenway and continued shootings. Police were able to track the shooter to Old Milburnie Road and apprehend him at the property on McConnell Oliver Drive. Law enforcement did not immediately apprehend the suspect, concerned that his backpack could contain explosives. There was an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and officers, and it is unclear if his injuries were from law enforcement or self inflicted. After apprehending the suspect, officers searched a home on Sahalee Way. (AP News, Fox News, NY Times, WUNC, WRAL)
- Following Thursday's mass shooting, community and national leaders have spoken out and acknowledged the shooting, calling for change. (FoxNews, Herald Sun, The Hill, News & Observer)
a. Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin addressed the incidents with shaking hands as she gave the first official update on Thursday. On Friday morning she addressed the community in a press conference, acknowledging the community grief, and saying "We have doubled our determination now to end senseless gun violence. ... We have to do something."
b. Chief of Police Estella Patterson was called back from a law enforcement conference on gun violence and making the community safer. At the press conference, she emphasized how proud she was of law enforcement and their partners.
c. Governor Roy Cooper was present alongside Mayor Baldwin and emphasized that, "As policymakers we cannot, and we will not turn away from what has happened here. We must be resolved to make changes and we will succeed.
d. President Biden spoke in support of gun control legislation and bans to assault weapons on Friday in response to the shooting, saying "We've grieved and prayed with too many families who have had to bear the terrible burden of these mass shootings."
| |
Today in Raleigh:
- North Carolina State Fair (9:00am-11:59pm)
- Compass Rose Drag Brunch (11:00am)
- Falling for Local at The Big Field at Dix Park (11:00am-6:00pm)
- Fall Family Fun Day at Pullen Park (RSVP Required 12:00pm-2:00pm)
- Oak City Fit Fest at Coastal Credit Union Midtown Park (12:00pm)
- Howl-O-Ween Pup Crawl at Boxcar (12:00pm-4:00pm)
- Artisan Pop-Up Market at Trophy on Maywood (12:00pm-5:00pm)
- Día de Muertos Ofrenda Workshop at Diamante Arts & Cultural Center (1:00pm-2:30pm)
- Red Bull Chariot Races at Moore Square (1:30pm)
- Trick-Or-Treat Mr. McGregor at Raleigh City Farm (3:00pm)
- Spirits of Raleigh Haunted Walking Drink Crawl at Oakwood (7:30pm)
Sunday in Raleigh:
- AccessABILITY Day at the N.C. State Fair (9:00am-1:00pm)
- HIIT in the Square at Moore Square (9:00am)
- Barre in the Brewyard at Bowstring (10:00am)
- Fall Fest at North Hills (11:00am-6:00pm)
- October Drag Brunch at Five Star (12:00pm)
- Music Bingo at Raleigh Brewing Co. (2:00pm)
- Lightwire Theater's Adventure of the Tortoise and Hare at Stewart Theatre (3:00pm)
- Country Brewfest at Triangle Beer Co. (4:00pm-9:00pm)
Bonus: Weekend Best Bets (WRAL)
From my notebook:
- It's National Cheese Curd Day and the Cheese Curd Shack is out at the State Fair. Make sure you check them out if you are headed there today!
- TherapyLand has recently opened their first and second North Carolina locations to help children in need of mental health care. Raleigh and Durham are the first two in a pilot program of 18 locations.
- When I told my husband about the Rattlesnake Corn Dog, he swore up and down it wasn't a real rattlesnake. But lo and behold WRAL confirms it is in fact, and it's tasty as can be.
- City Council meets on October 18! To speak during the public hearing or public comment periods, sign up by 5 p.m. on Oct. 17. (City of Raleigh Facebook)
More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!
Events:
- Play Day for a Cause at Kiddie Academy of Cary (October 15)
- Add your event
You're officially in the loop for today! See you tomorrow for another update.
— CJ Fullford
Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Raleigh Daily? Contact me at raleigh@patch.com