Raleigh NC police shooting: Off-duty officer among 5 dead | Raleigh News & Observer

A 29-year-old Raleigh police officer was among the five people killed in a mass shooting Thursday in northeast Raleigh.

Officer Gabriel Jesús Torres was off-duty at the time of the shooting, but was on his way to work when he was shot and killed the Hedingham neighborhood, Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson said Friday morning. Torres was not in uniform or in his patrol car when he was shot, she said.

Records obtained by The News & Observer show Torres lived in the Hedingham neighborhood, near the Neuse River Greenway.

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Patterson said Torres had been with the department for 18 months. Before that, Torres served as a Marine at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville. He was a Marine from November 2016 to February 2021, reaching the rank of sergeant, according to information provided to The N&O by the United States Marine Corps.

Torres leaves behind his wife and one child, Patterson said.

News of another law enforcement officer’s death rattled the community still reeling from the fatal shooting of Wake Sheriff’s Deputy Ned Byrd in August. Byrd, a K-9 officer, was killed while on-duty.

Patterson said Thursday’s shooting adds to the “stress and trauma” that officers are facing.

It’s been 20 years since a Raleigh Police officer was killed. That was Sept. 10, 2002, when Officer Charles R. Paul hit a guard rail on Interstate 40 as he attempted to catch up to a speeding vehicle, The N&O reported.

Torres, a Marine veteran

As a sergeant, he was part of Combat Logistic Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group.

His military awards include a Good Conduct Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a Humanitarian Service Medal and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

His military occupancy specialty was as an electrician.

His last assignment was at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. He moved to Raleigh in May 2021, public records show.

GoFundMe organized for family

Back the Blue NC, “an organization of proud residents from North Carolina who support our local, state, and federal Law Enforcement,” has organized a GoFundMe fundraiser for Torres’ family.

The Raleigh Police Protective Association shared a link to the online fundraiser on the organization’s Facebook page, and told The N&O that the fundraiser is “official.” Lindsay LiCausi, founder of Back the Blue NC, told The N&O that she had authorized the fundraiser with Torres’ wife.

The fundraiser’s description says that “100% of the proceeds collected will be delivered directly to the surviving family.”

The fundraiser is available at gofundme.com/f/benefit-for-family-of-Officer-Torres.

Raleigh Police Department establishes memorial, support fund

The Raleigh Police Department announced Saturday that it has created a memorial for Torres outside of the district’s downtown Raleigh office at 218 W. Cabarrus St.

The memorial, a Raleigh Police vehicle draped in black, is meant to “honor the life and service” of Torres.

“The senseless acts of violence on October 13th have left the Raleigh Police Department grieving and mourning with the community. We continue to pray for the families of those that lost their loved ones and wish for a swift recovery of those injured,” the department said in a statement.

“We are truly grateful for the outpouring of support from communities and law enforcement agencies across the globe.”

The department also announced that it has established an email for those wishing to offer support to the Torres family and the department during this time. Anyone who wishes to offer support may email SupportRPD@raleighnc.gov.

Anna Johnson and David Raynor contributed to this story.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This story was originally published October 14, 2022 12:47 PM.