On Oct. 13, a mass shooting occurred in Raleigh, North Carolina. The 15-year-old gunman was taken into custody after five people were fatally shot and two others injured, including the assailant's 16-year-old brother. The people of Raleigh have banded together to honor the victims, and some citizens have also taken the issue to local lawmakers and politicians.
The shooting took place along the greenway of a residential community in the Hedingham subdivision. The gunman started on the streets, where he took the life of the first two victims. He then fled to a nature trail nearby, where he killed three and wounded two. The crime scene occupies two miles of the community.
Police reports say he was dressed in all camouflage and remained hidden from the police for hours. Eyewitness News 11 writes that he had barricaded himself inside of a shed until he was taken into custody. He is facing life threatening injuries. The victims' ages varied from 16 to 52; among them was local police officer Gabriel Torres, who was on his way to work when the shooting occurred.
The attack was a shock to the small community. Susan Karnatz, a mother and avid runner, frequently ran the trail up until she lost her life in the assault. Now the people of Raleigh are holding a 5k in her honor. According to ABC News, the family of victim Mary Marshall, who was a mother and navy veteran, has reached out to law officials, pleading for something to be done about gun control.
On Oct. 14, President Biden released a statement regarding what happened in North Carolina. "Even in just the five months since Buffalo and Uvalde," Biden said, "there are too many mass shootings across America, including ones that don’t even make the national news." Biden also vowed to sign an assault weapons ban, which has passed through the House of Representatives and advised the Senate to do the same.
Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers in North Carolina have called for action; however, it appears officials are wrestling with the best course of action. According to WRAL News, North Carolina Senate Minority Leader, Dan Blue, stated that Democrats “have introduced bill after bill” seeking a solution, but none have made it to a hearing. However, North Carolina House Speaker, Tim Moore, stated, “We need to allow law enforcement to complete their investigation before jumping to any conclusions about policy changes.”
Still, people continue to call for reform. WRAL News reports that one advocate, Alicia Taylor Campbell, brings the same pair of running shoes with her to every protest since her son was murdered after a fight at a party on Oct. 2, 2016. The Associated Press reports that this was the 25th mass shooting in 2022, and the 123rd mass shooting that has occurred in North Carolina since 2013. These events have left many people still questioning what to do and how to handle shootings in the country.