RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Austin Thompson, 18, was sentenced to life without possibility of parole Friday for all five counts of first-degree murder.
The judge ruled he was sentenced to at least 157 months for attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon causing serious injury to Lynn Gardner.
The hearing lasted about two weeks. 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.
The wife of fallen Raleigh Officer Gabriel Torres took the stand this morning during the sentencing hearing for Austin Thompson.
He shot and killed Torres in 2022 along with four others.
Jasmine Torres spoke about the day she lost her husband.
The husband of one of the women killed in the Hedingham mass shooting in 2022 took the stand to speak during the sentencing hearing for Austin Thompson.
Tracey Howard was Nicole Connor's husband. She was one of five people killed in the shooting.
He spoke about how they had just celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary and returned home to find his wife dead.
"Austin's actions broke me. I don't enjoy the things that i used to do. I feel socially awkward now, I don't go anywhere. I feel guilty about having fun without my wife."
ABC11 will stream the hearing live
Lynn Gardner was one of the survivors in the Hedingham shooting.
On Tuesday, she took the stand to speak during sentencing for Austin Thompson who was the gunman in the 2022 mass shooting.
She spoke about waking up at the hospital to learn Nicole Conners was killed.
"I was numb. i couldn't comprehend that my friend was gone," she said.
"Believe it not, I feel for the family members that lost loved ones on that day. I lost a dear friend, but because of who i am and what i believe in - as given me the grace to forgive the young man who shot me. As a Christian, I don't just talk the talk, I walk the walk."
"Don't get it wrong, I'm not forgiving to free him. I'm forgiving to free me."
ABC11 will stream the hearing live
The sentencing hearing for Austin Thompson will start with what's expected to be emotional testimony from family members of the victims.
Thompson has pleaded guilty to killing five people in the Hedingham neighborhood in Oct 2022.
He pleaded guilty to 10 counts. Five of those were first degree murder charges.
In the three-page filing obtained by ABC11, it states Thompson pleaded guilty to all charges to spare the community of a trial and inflict more trauma.
It goes on to say that he hopes what comes out during sentencing brings peace and as much closure as possible.
Under state law he will be sentenced to life in prison. But it will be up to the judge to decide if it is with the possibility of parole or not.
ABC11 will stream the hearing live
