Teenager to Enter Guilty Plea in 2022 North Carolina Mass Shooting Case
In a significant legal development, attorneys for an 18-year-old suspect have confirmed their client intends to plead guilty to all charges stemming from a devastating mass shooting in North Carolina in 2022. The incident resulted in the tragic loss of five lives and left two individuals wounded, sending shockwaves through the local community.
Legal Proceedings and Planned Plea
According to a written notice filed in Wake County court by lawyers Kellie Mannette and Deonte' Thomas, their client, Austin Thompson, plans to enter a guilty plea. This move will avert a trial that had been scheduled to commence on February 2nd. The attorneys stated that Thompson "has decided he wishes to save the community and the victims from as much additional infliction of trauma as possible" by opting for this course of action.
Thompson was merely 15 years old at the time of the alleged offences, which authorities believe began on October 13, 2022, in his Raleigh neighbourhood. The rampage is reported to have started with his 16-year-old brother, James Thompson, among the victims. A hearing prior to the trial had been set for Wednesday, but the intended plea alters the legal timeline considerably.
Charges and Potential Sentencing
Austin Thompson faces severe charges as an adult, including:
- Five counts of murder
- Two counts of attempted murder
- Two counts of assault with a deadly weapon
- One count of assault of an officer with a gun
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for a later date following any formal plea. Due to his age at the time of the attack, Thompson is ineligible for the death penalty if convicted. The presiding judge will determine whether to impose a sentence of life imprisonment without parole or life with the possibility of parole after a minimum of 25 years.
Details of the Shooting and Aftermath
The prosecution contends that Thompson shot and stabbed his brother, whose body was discovered in their family home. Police allege he then proceeded to shoot multiple neighbours on the streets of the Hedingham community, resulting in the deaths of off-duty Raleigh police officer Gabriel Torres, 29, and Nicole Connors, 52. Another neighbour survived after being wounded.
Authorities further allege that Thompson later fatally shot two more individuals on the nearby Neuse River Greenway trail: Mary Marshall, 34, and Susan Karnatz, 49. Dressed in camouflage and armed with multiple weapons, Thompson was eventually located by law enforcement in a nearby shed. His arrest followed an hours-long standoff during which another police officer sustained injuries.
Defence Considerations and Previous Legal Issues
Thompson's legal proceedings have experienced delays, partly due to his recovery from a gunshot wound that a prosecutor concluded was self-inflicted prior to his arrest. His attorneys have indicated this injury resulted in a brain injury. In their recent filing, they noted that "the serious brain injury he suffered has made it such that Austin cannot explain why he committed this shooting, he has always accepted that he did this."
Previously, Thompson's defence team had signalled intentions to utilise arguments of "diminished capacity" and "voluntary intoxication ... of a prescribed medication" in his defence. Prosecutors, in their own filings, stated they intended to prove Thompson's actions were "especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel" and that he attempted to avoid custody, though a clear motive has not been publicly disclosed.
In a related case, Thompson's father pleaded guilty in 2024 to improperly storing a handgun that authorities said was found with his son after the shootings. He received a suspended sentence and probation. Investigators also seized 11 firearms and 160 boxes of ammunition—some empty—from the Thompson family home, according to search warrants.
Official Response and Community Impact
Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman confirmed awareness of the plea notice on Tuesday, stating, "We are ready to move forward. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims." Thompson's attorneys expressed their client's hope that "the material presented at the sentencing hearing brings as much peace and closure as possible" for those affected.
The case continues to underscore profound issues surrounding youth violence, gun access, and community safety, with the planned guilty plea marking a pivotal moment in a lengthy and painful legal process for all involved.
