Teenage Shooter Admits Guilt in Raleigh Mass Shooting That Claimed Five Lives
An 18-year-old has entered a guilty plea to multiple murder and assault charges stemming from a devastating mass shooting in North Carolina that unfolded in 2022. The violent rampage resulted in the deaths of five individuals, including the perpetrator's older brother and an off-duty police officer.
Courtroom Admission Ahead of Scheduled Trial
Austin David Thompson, who was just 15 years old at the time of the attacks that authorities say originated in his Raleigh neighbourhood, formally pleaded guilty during a hearing at Wake County Superior Court on Wednesday. This admission comes less than two weeks before Thompson was scheduled to face trial in state court, marking a significant turn in the lengthy legal proceedings.
His defence team, who had spent months filing pre-trial motions to restrict certain testimony and evidence, announced on Tuesday that Thompson intended to plead guilty to all charges. They emphasised that avoiding a trial would "save the community and the victims from as much additional infliction of trauma as possible."
Details of the Charges and Sentencing Considerations
During the hearing, Thompson—dressed in a quarter-zip sweater and slacks—offered few words as Wake County Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway questioned him and accepted his pleas. The specific charges to which he pleaded guilty include:
- Five counts of first-degree murder
- Two counts of attempted first-degree murder
- Two counts of assault with a deadly weapon
- One count of assault of an officer with a gun
Judge Ridgeway has scheduled a sentencing hearing for February 2nd, which is expected to last several days as testimony and evidence are thoroughly reviewed. Notably, Thompson and his attorney confirmed in court that no plea agreement had been reached with local prosecutors.
Due to his age at the time of the attack, Thompson is ineligible for the death penalty. However, a judge could impose sentences of life in prison without parole for the murder counts. Alternatively, Judge Ridgeway might sentence him in a manner that would allow eligibility for parole after serving at least 25 years. This follows recent state appeals court rulings that placed a 40-year limit on how long such young offenders must serve before becoming eligible for parole.
Sequence of the 2022 Shooting Rampage
Providing the court with a summary of evidence that would have been presented at trial, Assistant District Attorney Patrick Latour detailed the harrowing sequence of events during the shootings on October 13, 2022.
Latour stated that Thompson first shot and then repeatedly stabbed his brother, James, whose body was discovered in the family's home within the Hedingham community. The armed teenager then proceeded to shoot multiple neighbours on the community's streets, resulting in the deaths of Nicole Connors, 52, and off-duty Raleigh police officer Gabriel Torres, 29. Another neighbour who was wounded during this phase survived the attack.
Later, Thompson fatally shot two additional individuals on a nearby 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 he wounded another police officer.
Motive Remains Unclear Due to Brain Injury
Wednesday's hearing provided little additional insight into Austin Thompson's motive for the attacks. His attorneys wrote this week that a serious brain injury "has made it such that Austin cannot explain why he committed this shooting."
This injury resulted from a gunshot wound that Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman had previously concluded was self-inflicted before Thompson's arrest. The resolution of the case was delayed in part while Thompson recovered from this injury.
Latour revealed that a note written by Thompson acknowledged why he killed his brother but did not provide further explanation. The note has been ordered to remain confidential for the time being. Additionally, records of Thompson's online search history showed that he had sought information about mass shootings and related topics.
Victim Impact and Related Legal Proceedings
Robert Steele, who was engaged to Mary Marshall at the time of her death, spoke to reporters after the hearing, expressing that sentencing Thompson to life in prison without parole would be appropriate. "That's justice," Steele stated. "He took five people's lives, he tried to take two others."
In a related development from 2024, Thompson's father pleaded guilty to improperly storing a handgun that authorities said was found with his son after the shootings. He received a suspended sentence and probation.
According to search warrants, investigators seized 11 firearms and 160 boxes of ammunition—some of them empty—from the Thompson family home following the tragic events.
