RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The 18-year-old who pleaded guilty to killing five people in Raleigh's Hedingham neighborhood in October 2022 will soon learn his fate.
Austin Thompson's trial for the deadly mass shooting was scheduled to begin on Tuesday. However, that date is now the first day of his sentencing phase because Thompson and his legal team decided to enter a guilty plea for all five murders and some additional charges on Jan. 21 in Wake County.
In the motion, Thompson said he wanted to plead guilty to all charges to spare the community of a trial and inflict more trauma. It goes on to say that by moving straight to the sentencing hearing, he hopes what comes out during sentencing brings peace and as much closure as possible.
The sentencing phase could last up to two weeks.
ABC11 will stream the hearing live here and provide up-to-the-minute updates in this live blog.
Friday marks the fourth day of the Raleigh mass shooter's sentencing hearing.
Court resumed around 9:30 a.m.
The defense called Sergeant Robert Pile of the Raleigh Police Department to testify. He investigated Thompson's digital evidence and provided details about his search history in the months and days leading up to the October 13 mass shooting.
The state focused this afternoon on trying to establish premeditation in the Raleigh mass shooting that took place in the Hedingham neighborhood in 2022.
That will play a factor in the sentence.
A Raleigh police sergeant spoke about searches done on Thompson's personal devices.
That sergeant testified Thompson searched school shootings 25 times, serial killers 30 times, and torture another 30 times.
His confession letter was also read in court.
Get live updates from the hearing here on the ABC11 Austin Thompson Sentencing Blog.
During Sgt. Tripp's testimony, a note found in Austin's bedroom on the day of the shooting was presented. The note read:
The reason I did this is because I hate humans. They are destroying the planet/earth. Killed him at 4:20 about 5 minutes off maybe. He kept breathing so I stabbed him. Stopped breathing about 10-15 mins later. I don't have a goal. I'm not suicidal. Death is like sleep. That's why I don't care if I die. I was never buillied or anything. By dad. I don't like you mom. Every other family member is good. Thanks juan and deangelo for taking me hunting. I don't want to die but it's going to happen anyway. You were the best dad. I was never bullied in school either. (Cops) i killed James because he would get in my way. I killed James with a subsonic 22 I stole from Cabella's. I have no regrets. I'm not mental either. I was sane when I did this.
Around 12:33 p.m., Tripp stated he was also shown a hollowed-out Chapstick tube discovered by Alan Thompson, Austin's father. Inside were tiny handwritten notes and diagrams. One diagram was believed to depict a "bomb-making" design and instructions, while others appeared to show pipe bombs and related instructions.
At 1 p.m., the court breaks for lunch.
The prosecution called William Tripp, a sergeant with the Raleigh Police Department and a detective on the day of the shooting, to the stand around 11 a.m.
Court went into recess at 11:30 a.m. and resumed at 11:45 a.m., when a map displayed Thompson's path from his home to where he was captured.
Tripp confirmed he spoke with Alan Thompson about the phone call in which he talked with Austin.
At 12:26, Tripp began reviewing the confession letter from Austin.
