RALEIGH, N.C. — An 18-year-old has admitted to charges related to a mass shooting in North Carolina that resulted in the deaths of five individuals, including his older brother and a police officer. Austin David Thompson, who was just 15 during the deadly incident in October 2022, entered a guilty plea on Wednesday, avoiding a trial that was set to begin in less than two weeks.
Thompson’s decision to plead guilty comes after months of pretrial motions by his defense team aimed at reducing the impact of certain testimonies and evidence. In a statement released earlier, his attorneys indicated that a plea would spare the community and victims from the additional trauma of a trial.
During the court proceedings, Thompson, dressed in a quarter-zip sweater and slacks, provided minimal responses while Wake County Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway accepted his guilty pleas on multiple counts, including five counts of first-degree murder and various counts of attempted murder and assault. Sentencing is scheduled for February 2, with the potential for the hearing to extend over several days as evidence is examined.
Due to his age at the time of the incident, Thompson cannot face the death penalty. Instead, he could be sentenced to life in prison without parole, or potentially become eligible for parole after serving at least 25 years under recent state court guidelines for young offenders.
The resolution of Thompson’s case had been postponed partly because he was recovering from a gunshot injury, which the district attorney concluded was self-inflicted prior to his arrest. His defense has stated that this injury led to significant brain damage.
Assistant District Attorney Patrick Latour detailed the tragic events of the shooting, beginning with Thompson’s attack on his brother, James, whose body was discovered at their family home. The assailant then moved through the neighborhood, fatally shooting additional victims, including off-duty police Officer Gabriel Torres and two others found on a nearby trail.
Authorities apprehended Thompson after a standoff at a nearby shed, during which he also injured another officer. Despite the courtroom proceedings shedding light on some details of the case, insiders revealed that Thompson’s underlying motives remain largely unexplained. His attorneys argued that his brain injury has affected his capacity to articulate why the shooting occurred.
Investigators uncovered evidence indicating that Thompson had researched mass shootings prior to the attack. A note found among his belongings acknowledged the circumstances surrounding his brother’s death but remains confidential at this time. An attorney for Thompson mentioned that this evidence might be contested during the upcoming sentencing.
After the hearing, a grieving family member of one of the victims emphasized the need for severe repercussions for Thompson’s actions, calling for a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Meanwhile, in a separate but related case, Thompson’s father previously pleaded guilty to improperly storing the firearm used in the shootings. He received a suspended sentence and probation.
Authorities have reported the seizure of a substantial arsenal from the Thompson family home, including 11 firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition, underscoring a vast history of local hunting activities within the family. The community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the attack, calling for justice for the lives lost.