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.
At 9:59 a.m., Judge Ridgeway sentences Austin Thompson, now 18, 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.
At 9:40 a.m., Judge Ridgeway talked about the timeline and facts of shooting based on evidence presented in court.
"It's hard to conceive of a greater display of pure malice than the conduct of the defendant in indiscriminate targeting and brutal killing of five homicide victims," he said. "This lengthy period of premeditation and deliberation, paired with malice, are compelling findings that support the conclusion or a conclusion that Austin Thompson is one of the rare juvenile defenders whose crime is irreparable corruption."
At 9:51 a.m., Ridgeway said the court does not support the defense's argument that the acne medicine caused dissociation.
Austin entered the courtroom at 9:27 a.m. Friday morning.
At 9:30 a.m., the defense told Judge Paul Ridgeway that a sentence of life without parole would be "unconstitutional."
Judge Ridgeway wanted to take a moment to remember the five victims: Nicole Connors, 52; Susan Karnatz, 49; Mary Marshall, 35; Gabriel Torres, 29; and James Thompson, 16. He talked briefly about each one of them and their loved ones left behind.
On Friday, it is expected that the judge will sentence Hedingham mass shooter Austin Thompson to life in prison or a sentence with the possibility of parole.
The judge will sentence Thompson at the Wake County Justice Center.
The defense and prosecution laid out their closing arguments on Thursday.
ABC11's Tom George spoke with former U.S. Attorney Michael Easley Jr., who spoke about the decision the judge has to make.
"I think it's really important for a judge when they are weighing the goals of sentencing, that they think very seriously about deterrence," Easley said. "We do not want anyone thinking that they can go with a loaded gun in this community and take the lives of our friends and our neighbors.
"And a strong message needs to be said that no matter your age, if you go out and use a weapon of war and make an adult decision in a premeditated fashion to take the lives of others, that there will be severe consequences meted out," Easley added.
Thompson is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of life with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
The maximum penalty would be five life sentences.
