Austin Thompson, who was 15 at the time of the Oct. 13, 2022 Hedingham neighborhood shooting in Raleigh, intends to plead guilty to all charges, according to court records. The attack left five people dead and two others injured, including Raleigh police officers. Defense attorneys say Thompson sustained a serious brain injury when he was shot during his arrest and cannot explain his actions; he has acknowledged responsibility. The plea would move the case directly to sentencing; a date has not been set.
Teen Expected To Plead Guilty In 2022 Raleigh Mass Shooting That Killed Five
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A teenager charged in the Oct. 13, 2022, mass shooting in Raleigh’s Hedingham neighborhood plans to plead guilty to all counts, according to Wake County court records. The decision would move the case directly to sentencing and avoid a public trial.
Case Overview
Austin Thompson, who was 15 at the time of the attack and is now 18, is expected to enter guilty pleas to all charges related to the shooting. Investigators say the rampage began inside the family home, where Thompson allegedly fatally shot his older brother, before he left with a shotgun and handgun and opened fire in the neighborhood.
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The shooting left five people dead and two others injured, including Raleigh police officers. Those killed include Raleigh Police Officer Gabriel Torres, James Roger Thompson, Mary Elizabeth Marshall, Nicole Connors and Susan Karnatz. Marcille Lynn Gardner and Raleigh Police Officer C. Clark were reported injured.
Defense Filing And Brain Injury
In a court filing, Thompson’s attorneys said he suffered a serious brain injury when he was shot in the head during his apprehension by Raleigh police. The filing states the injury has left Thompson unable to explain why he committed the shooting, though he has acknowledged responsibility.
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"Austin was 15 years old when these events occurred. While 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. He recognizes the deep pain he has caused the victims' families as well as his own family."
The filing also says Thompson chose the guilty-plea path after lengthy discussions with counsel about the course of a trial and the potential trauma a public trial could inflict on victims' families and the community.
Charges, Related Proceedings And Family
Court records list charges against Thompson including five counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and one count of assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer. A sentencing date has not been set.
Separately, Thompson’s father, Alan Thompson, pleaded guilty in 2024 to improperly storing a handgun that authorities said was found with his son after the shootings; he received a suspended jail sentence and probation.
Requests for comment to Thompson’s attorneys had not been returned at the time of reporting.
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