Austin Thompson's defense plans to file motion to suppress evidence in Hedingham mass shooting trial

WAKE COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- A Wake County Judge set a deadline for motions in the Hedingham Mass Shooting trial, where the accused killer, Austin Thompson is charged with five counts of murder.

The motion deadline is set for January 5. An additional court date was also set to hear new motions filed during the week of January 19.

Thompson's attorneys said they planned to file a motion to suppress evidence in the next week. What evidence the defense wants excluded from the trial was not made clear in court.

Thompson is charged with the deadly shooting in the Hedingham neighborhood when he was 15 years old.

He is accused of killing five people including his brother and a Raleigh police officer, in October of 2022.

Thompson's attorneys said they intend to use, in his defense, claims of "diminished capacity -- and voluntary intoxication due to therapeutic doses of a prescribed medication."

In addition to the criminal case against Thompson, he is also facing a civil case.

The family of the shooting victims and the shooting survivors sued Thompson along with his parents, the Hedingham homeowners' association, the property management company, and the private security company patrolling the neighborhood.

A jury trial in the civil case is set for next summer.

The criminal trial will start February 2nd.