The parents of a 15-year-old mass shooting suspect are breaking their silence Tuesday for the first time since the violence that shook a community and the state last Thursday. 

The mass shooting began in a Raleigh neighborhood, where two people were killed, according to police. The teenage gunman then moved to the Neuse River Greenway, where he killed three more, police said.

“Words cannot begin to describe our anguish and sorrow,” Alan and Elise Thompson’s statement begins. 

The rest of the statement, which was released by their attorneys, reads: 

“Our son Austin inflicted immeasurable pain on the Raleigh community, and we are overcome with grief for the innocent lives lost. We pray for the families and loved ones of Nicole Conners, Susan Karnatz, Mary Marshall, and Raleigh Police Officer Gabriel Torres. We mourn for their loss and for the loss of our son, James.

We pray that Marcille “Lynn” Gardner and Raleigh Police Officer Casey Clark fully recover from their injuries, and we pray for everyone who was traumatized by these senseless acts of violence.

We have so many unanswered questions. There were never any indications or warning signs that Austin was capable of doing anything like this. Our family will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement officials and do whatever we can to help them understand why and how this happened.”

Among the victims killed Thursday were 16-year-year-old James Thompson, Officer Gabriel Torres, 29, Nicole Connors, 52, Mary Marshall, 35, and Susan Karnatz, 49. The shooting broke the calmness of the usually peaceful Hedingham neighborhood in east Raleigh. 

A second Raleigh police officer, Casey Clark, 33, was injured Thursday but was released from the hospital that night. Clark is getting ready to return to work. Marcille Gardner, 59, remains in the hospital, but is no longer in critical condition, according to Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson, who gave an update on those injured Tuesday. 

The suspected shooter remains in critical condition, Patterson said. 

The city is setting up a website for official fundraisers to support the victims of the shooting. The funeral for Officer Torres is scheduled for this weekend, with a visitation on Friday night and funeral Saturday morning. 

Police are expected to release more on the shooting Thursday.