Lawyers say 18-year-old will plead guilty to North Carolina shooting that left five dead | US crime

The 18-year-old plans to plead guilty to a 2022 mass shooting in North Carolina that left five people dead, including his older brother, and plans to avoid a hearing in February, his lawyers said.

In a written statement submitted to the Wake County court by Austin Thompson’s lawyers, it was stated that their client intends to plead guilty to all charges against him.

Thompson was 15 when authorities believe he went on a deadly rampage with his 16-year-old brother in a Raleigh neighborhood in October 2022. A hearing was scheduled for Wednesday ahead of his trial scheduled for February.

But attorneys Kellie Mannette and Deonte’ Thomas wrote that with the intended plea, Thompson “decided that he wanted to spare the community and victims as much trauma as possible.”

Lawyers did not immediately respond to emails Tuesday seeking additional information about the decision.

Thompson’s legal proceedings were delayed in part because he was recovering from a gunshot wound that prosecutors concluded was self-inflicted before his arrest. His lawyers say the incident caused brain damage.

Prosecutors had not released a possible motive for the shootings but said in the court filing that they aimed to prove, among other factors, that Thompson’s actions were “especially heinous, heinous or cruel” and that he was trying to escape custody.

In the application filed Tuesday by Thompson’s lawyers, he said that “even though Austin’s severe brain damage left him unable to explain why he committed this attack, he always accepted that he did it.”

Thompson was charged as an adult with five counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and assault with a weapon on a police officer. Any pleas will be followed by a sentencing hearing at a later date.

Because of his age at the time of the attack, Thompson would not receive the death penalty if convicted. The presiding judge will have to decide whether to sentence him to life in prison without parole for murder or with the possibility of parole after at least 25 years.

Wake County district attorney Lorrin Freeman said he was aware of the plea announcement.

“We are ready to move forward. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims,” ​​Freeman added in a later text message.

Thompson hopes “the material presented at the sentencing hearing will bring as much peace and closure as possible,” his attorneys wrote.

Prosecutors allege Thompson shot and stabbed his brother, James, whose body was found in their home.

Police also said they believe Thompson then shot several neighbors on the streets of the Hedingham neighborhood, killing off-duty Raleigh police officers Gabriel Torres, 29, and Nicole Connors, 52. Another neighbor who was injured also survived.

They also alleged that he later fatally shot two more people on the nearby Neuse River Greenway: 34-year-old Mary Marshall and 49-year-old Susan Karnatz.

Thompson, who was wearing camouflage and had multiple guns strapped to his belt, was located by law enforcement at a nearby shed and arrested after an hours-long standoff that resulted in another officer being injured.

Thompson’s attorneys have previously stated that they intend to use “impaired capacity” and “voluntary intoxication of a prescription drug” in Thompson’s defense.

In 2024, Thompson’s father pleaded guilty to a charge of improperly concealing a gun that authorities said was found with his son after the shootings. He received a suspended sentence and probation.

According to search warrants, investigators seized 11 firearms and 160 boxes of ammunition (some unloaded) from Thompson’s home.