An 18-year-old, Austin David Thompson, pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree murder and multiple assault and attempted murder charges for a 2022 mass shooting in Raleigh that killed five people, including his brother and a Raleigh police officer. Thompson was 15 at the time of the attack and is ineligible for the death penalty; sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 2. Prosecutors described a neighborhood rampage and recovery of weapons, ammunition and a sealed note; defense attorneys say a self-inflicted gunshot wound caused significant brain injury. No plea agreement was reported.
Teen Pleads Guilty in 2022 Raleigh Rampage That Killed Five, Including Brother and Police Officer
Teen mass killer pleads guilty to NC rampage that left five dead, including brother, police officer
An 18-year-old man, Austin David Thompson, pleaded guilty Wednesday to multiple charges stemming from a 2022 mass shooting in Raleigh, North Carolina, that left five people dead — including his older brother and a city police officer. Thompson entered guilty pleas days before a scheduled trial in Wake County Superior Court.
Charges and Court Proceedings
Austin Thompson is sworn in during a hearing in Wake County Superior Court on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina.(AP Images)
Thompson formally pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree murder, two counts each of attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon, and one count of assaulting an officer with a gun. Wake County Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway accepted the pleas after briefly questioning Thompson, who spoke little during the hearing. Sentencing was set for Feb. 2 and is expected to span several days. Thompson and his attorney said no plea agreement was reached with prosecutors.
What Prosecutors Say Happened
Defense attorney Kellie Mannette touches Austin Thompson’s shoulder during a hearing in Wake County Superior Court on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Prosecutors say Thompson, who was 15 at the time of the attack on Oct. 13, 2022, began the rampage inside his family home in the Hedingham neighborhood by shooting and repeatedly stabbing his brother, James Thompson. He then moved through the neighborhood armed with a shotgun and a handgun, fatally shooting Nicole Connors and Raleigh police officer Gabriel Torres; another neighbor was wounded and survived. Investigators say Thompson later continued the attack on a nearby greenway, where he fatally shot Mary Marshall and Susan Karnatz. Officers located Thompson near McConnell Oliver Drive; he reportedly opened fire and wounded Raleigh officer Casey Clark before multiple officers returned fire and took him into custody.
Evidence and Investigation
Raleigh Police Department Officer Gabriel Torres, who was fatally shot in an Oct. 13, 2022, mass shooting.
Authorities reported finding Thompson wearing camouflage with a handgun in his waistband and a backpack containing various ammunition. A sheath for a large knife was clipped to his belt and a hunting knife was found on the property; a shotgun and shells were discovered near where he was detained. Search warrants show investigators seized 11 firearms and about 160 boxes of ammunition from the family home. Prosecutors also say they recovered records showing internet searches about mass shootings and a sealed handwritten note in which Thompson addressed why he killed his brother; the note’s contents were not disclosed in court.
Juvenile Status, Injury and Defense Claims
Tears well in Tracey Howard’s eyes as he hears a prosecutor describe his wife Nicole Connors’ murder during a hearing in Wake County Superior Court on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Because Thompson was a juvenile (15) when the shootings occurred, he is not eligible for the death penalty under state law. Judge Ridgeway could impose life sentences without parole, though North Carolina law also allows juvenile offenders to be sentenced in ways that make them eligible for parole after serving at least 25 years; a recent appeals court ruling capped juvenile parole-eligibility at 40 years served. The case was delayed while Thompson recovered from a self-inflicted gunshot wound sustained before his arrest. District Attorney Lorrin Freeman has said the wound caused significant brain damage; Thompson’s attorneys argue the injury left him with major cognitive impairment and unable to explain his motive.
Victims and Family Reactions
The five people killed were identified as James Thompson; 52-year-old Nicole Connors; 29-year-old Raleigh police officer Gabriel Torres; 34-year-old Mary Marshall; and 49-year-old Susan Karnatz. Mary Marshall’s fiancé, Robert Steele, said after the hearing that Thompson should receive life without parole, adding: “He took five people’s lives; he tried to take two others.”
Related Developments
Earlier this year, Thompson’s father pleaded guilty to improperly storing a handgun that authorities say was found with his son after the attack; he received a suspended sentence and probation. Officials noted the family were avid hunters.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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