Teen mass killer pleads guilty to NC rampage that left five dead, including brother, police officer

An 18-year-old admitted Wednesday to carrying retired a 2022 wide shooting successful Raleigh, North Carolina, which killed 5 radical – including his older member and a constabulary serviceman – pleading blameworthy to execution and aggregate different charges conscionable days earlier trial.

The Associated Press reported that Austin David Thompson pleaded blameworthy to 5 counts of first-degree murder, 2 counts each of attempted first-degree execution and battle with a deadly weapon, and 1 number of assaulting an serviceman with a gun.

Thompson was 15 erstwhile prosecutors accidental helium opened occurrence successful his Raleigh neighborhood, sidesplitting Thompson’s member James Thompson, on with 52-year-old Nicole Connors, 29-year-old Raleigh constabulary serviceman Gabriel Torres, 34-year-old Mary Marshall and 49-year-old Susan Karnatz. He had been scheduled to look a authorities execution proceedings aboriginal this period earlier changing his plea.

Thompson’s lawyers announced Tuesday that helium would plead blameworthy to each charges aft months of pretrial motions seeking to restrict what grounds and grounds prosecutors could present. In tribunal filings, his attorneys said avoiding a proceedings would "save the assemblage and the victims from arsenic overmuch further infliction of trauma arsenic possible."

MISSISSIPPI PROSECUTORS TO SEEK DEATH PENALTY AGAINST MAN ACCUSED OF DEADLY RAMPAGE THAT INCLUDED GIRL, PASTOR

Austin Thompson is sworn successful during a proceeding successful Wake County Superior Court connected Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, successful Raleigh, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed)

Wearing a quarter-zip sweater and slacks, Thompson offered fewer words arsenic Wake County Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway questioned him and formally accepted the blameworthy pleas.

Ridgeway scheduled sentencing for Feb. 2, a proceeding expected to span respective days. Thompson and his lawyer confirmed nary plea woody was reached with prosecutors.

Because Thompson was a insignificant astatine the clip of the shootings, helium is not eligible for the decease penalty. Ridgeway could enforce beingness sentences without parole, though authorities instrumentality besides allows for sentences that marque him eligible for parole aft astatine slightest 25 years. A caller ruling by authorities appeals judges capped the magnitude of clip juvenile offenders indispensable service earlier becoming eligible for parole astatine 40 years.

TRIAL UNDERWAY FOR FORMER UVALDE SCHOOL POLICE OFFICER ACCUSED OF SLOW RESPONSE TO SHOOTING

Defense lawyer Kellie Mannette touches Austin Thompson’s enarthrosis during a proceeding successful Wake County Superior Court connected Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, successful Raleigh, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed)

The lawsuit was delayed portion Thompson recovered from a gunshot coiled that Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman has said was self-inflicted earlier his arrest, an wounded his attorneys contend caused important encephalon damage.

In court, Assistant District Attorney Patrick Latour outlined the grounds prosecutors would person presented astatine trial, describing the series of events connected Oct. 13, 2022.

Latour said Thompson archetypal changeable and past repeatedly stabbed James wrong the family’s location successful the Hedingham neighborhood. Prosecutors said Thompson past moved done the vicinity equipped with a shotgun and a handgun, sidesplitting Connors and past Torres. Another neighbour was wounded and survived.

SIX KILLED IN SERIES OF MISSISSIPPI SHOOTINGS, INDIVIDUAL IN CUSTODY: REPORTS

Raleigh Police Department Officer Gabriel Torres, who was fatally changeable successful an Oct. 13, 2022, wide shooting. (Fox News Channel)

Authorities said Thompson aboriginal continued the onslaught connected a adjacent greenway trail, wherever helium fatally changeable Marshall and Karnatz.

Police said officers yet located Thompson adjacent McConnell Oliver Drive, wherever helium opened fire, wounding Raleigh Police Officer Casey Clark. Multiple officers returned fire, discharging astir 23 rounds earlier Thompson was placed successful handcuffs.

"At the time, helium was wearing camouflage covering and a backpack, and a handgun was successful his waistband. The backpack contained assorted items, including respective types of shotgun/rifle ammunition. A sheath for a ample weapon was recovered clipped to his belt, and a ample hunting weapon was recovered astatine the beforehand of the outbuilding. A shotgun and shotgun shells were lying connected the crushed adjacent him," Raleigh Police Chief Estella D. Patterson said successful a study astatine the time.

NASHVILLE SHOOTER AUDREY HALE ALLEGEDLY USED FEDERAL STUDENT AID TO BUY GUNS FOR SCHOOL ATTACK

Tears good successful Tracey Howard’s eyes arsenic helium hears a authoritative picture his woman Nicole Connors’ execution during a proceeding successful Wake County Superior Court connected Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, successful Raleigh, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed)

Wednesday’s proceeding offered fewer caller details astir Thompson’s motive. His attorneys wrote this week that a encephalon wounded suffered during the lawsuit has near him incapable to explicate wherefore helium carried retired the shootings.

Latour said a enactment written by Thompson addressed wherefore helium killed his brother, but the contents were not disclosed successful tribunal and were ordered sealed. Latour besides said investigators recovered records showing Thompson searched online for accusation astir wide shootings and related topics, grounds the defence said could beryllium challenged astatine sentencing.

Robert Steele, the fiancé of Marshall, said aft the proceeding that Thompson should beryllium sentenced to beingness successful situation without parole.

"That’s justice," Steele said. "He took 5 people’s lives; helium tried to instrumentality 2 others."

In 2024, Thompson’s begetter pleaded blameworthy to improperly storing a handgun authorities said was recovered with his lad aft the onslaught and received a suspended condemnation and probation.

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Investigators besides seized 11 firearms and 160 boxes of ammunition – immoderate of them bare – from the Thompson home, according to hunt warrants. Latour said Thompson and his household were avid hunters.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.