Police congregate outside an armoured vehicle in Raleigh
(Picture: AP)Police have revealed the suspect in a shooting that left five dead in the US state of North Carolina is a 15-year-old boy.
A police officer was among those killed in the attack in a residential area in the state’s capital, Raleigh.
Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin told reporters that multiple people were shot on the Neuse River Greenway around 5pm local time on Thursday, and that Raleigh Police Department told her around 8pm that the suspect had been “contained” at a residence in the area.
Police said the assailant opened fire along a walking trail in the city and eluded officers for hours before he was cornered in a home and arrested. The suspect was said to be in critical condition.
An off-duty police officer was among those killed by the suspect, who police initially only described as a white, juvenile male. He was arrested around 9.37pm, authorities said.
Two people, including another police officer, were taken to hospitals. The officer was later released, but the other survivor remained in critical condition.
“Tonight, terror has reached our doorstep. The nightmare of every community has come to Raleigh. This is a senseless horrific and infuriating act of violence that has been committed,” North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper told reporters.
Authorities did not offer any details on a motive, but Ms Baldwin joined Mr Cooper in decrying the violence.
“We must stop this mindless violence in America, we must address gun violence,” the mayor said. “We have much to do, and tonight we have much to mourn.”
