Teen Pleads Guilty to North Carolina Mass Shooting
An 18-year-old from Raleigh, North Carolina, has admitted to carrying out a mass shooting in 2022, resulting in five fatalities, including his elder brother and a police officer. The shooter, Austin David Thompson, was 15 at the time of the incident.
Thompson was expected to face trial in state court shortly, but his attorneys disclosed plans for a guilty plea to all charges. This decision, they argue, spares the community and victims from further trauma. Thompson pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including five counts of first-degree murder and assault of an officer.
Judge Paul Ridgeway accepted the pleas and scheduled a sentencing hearing for February 2, which is anticipated to extend over several days. Despite no plea agreement with prosecutors, Thompson’s age at the time of the crime prevents a death penalty sentence. Possible sentences include life imprisonment without parole or eligibility for parole after 25 years, considering recent appeal court decisions.
Resolution of the case was postponed due to Thompson’s recovery from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, which led to a serious brain injury, as determined by District Attorney Lorrin Freeman.
In court, Assistant District Attorney Patrick Latour detailed the events of the October 13, 2022, shootings. Thompson’s attack began with the murder of his brother, followed by multiple shootings in their neighborhood, resulting in the deaths of neighbors and an off-duty police officer. Thompson was apprehended after a standoff with law enforcement officers.
Thompson’s motive remains unclear, and his attorneys cite the brain injury as a reason for his inability to explain the shootings. Evidence of his online searches related to mass shootings was noted, though it might face challenges during sentencing.
Robert Steele, the fiancé of victim Mary Marshall, believes life imprisonment without parole is appropriate, stating, “He took five people’s lives, he tried to take two others.” In 2024, Thompson’s father admitted to improperly storing a handgun found at the scene, receiving a suspended sentence and probation.
Authorities discovered 11 firearms and numerous boxes of ammunition at the Thompson residence. The family, including Austin Thompson, were known as avid hunters.
