He did and it was one of the few times he looked at someone speaking on the stand.
"Look at me, Austin," said Jasmine Torres. "My dearest husband, Gab. He was a man who worked day in and day out to not only ensure the safety of his home, but the community and the country as well. He stole his life. You stole my life. You stole my daughter's life. You had no right. None. And Austin, how dare you point your rifle at my friend? And although the trigger was never pulled, that's also a life that's forever changed. And it is unforgivable. You heard my screams. I know you did. I replay that day over and over and over in my head."
After the gripping impact statement, Alan Thompson testified he would often take his sons out shooting and there were no signs Austin would cause such a tragedy.
"The person I raised and the person who did these things - I can't put them together," said Alan Thompson. "When James died, a part of me died. The person I raised and the person who did these things, I can't put them together."
The apparent confessional letter Austin Thompson wrote was also presented.
Sgt. William Tripp read it to the court. "The reason I did this is because I hate humans. They are destroying the planet earth. I killed James because he would get in my way. He kept breathing so I stabbed him."
James Thompson was stabbed 57 times after being shot in the head.
Get live updates from the hearing here on the ABC11 Austin Thompson Sentencing Blog.