RALEIGH, N.C. — An 18-year-old has pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including murder, stemming from a mass shooting that occurred in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2022. Austin David Thompson admitted to his role in the rampage that claimed five lives, among them his older brother and a police officer.
Initially scheduled for trial in less than two weeks, Thompson’s legal team announced on Tuesday that he would forgo the proceedings in favor of a guilty plea. His attorneys indicated that this decision aimed to minimize additional trauma for the victims’ families and the community as a whole. During the court proceedings, Thompson appeared subdued, wearing a quarter-zip sweater and slacks, as Wake County Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway accepted his pleas.
Thompson faces five counts of first-degree murder, alongside charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. A sentencing hearing has been set for February 2, during which details of the case will be presented. Despite entering a guilty plea, no deal has been struck with local prosecutors, leaving Thompson facing the potential of significant prison time.
Since he was 15 at the time of the shootings, Thompson is not eligible for the death penalty. However, the judge could impose life sentences without the possibility of parole, or grant eligibility for parole after 25 years, following recent judicial rulings affecting young offenders.
The case’s timeline was complicated when Thompson sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound prior to his arrest, contributing to delays in legal proceedings. This injury left him with severe brain damage, complicating his ability to articulate a motive for his actions. Assistant District Attorney Patrick Latour provided a harrowing account of the shooting, which unfolded in the Hedingham community on October 13, 2022.
According to Latour, Thompson first targeted his brother, James, fatally shooting and stabbing him within their home. He subsequently moved outside, arming himself with a shotgun and a handgun, and shot several neighbors, including 52-year-old Nicole Connors and 29-year-old off-duty officer Gabriel Torres. In total, Thompson fatally shot two additional individuals on a nearby greenway trail before law enforcement located him in a shed following an hours-long standoff that resulted in another police officer being injured.
Thompson’s legal team provided a court summary referencing a note that allegedly explains the murder of his brother, though the content of that note remains confidential at this time. Investigators also discovered online searches connected to mass shootings on Thompson’s devices, which his counsel may contest during sentencing.
Following the proceedings, Robert Steele, the fiancé of one of the victims, expressed his belief that a life sentence without parole would be appropriate for Thompson. “That’s justice,” Steele commented, emphasizing the gravity of the tragedy caused by Thompson’s actions.
In a related development, Thompson’s father previously pleaded guilty to charges related to improper firearm storage. Authorities recovered an extensive cache of firearms and ammunition from the Thompson residence, underlining a long-standing history of hunting in the family.