Defense plans to blame medication, 'diminished capacity' in Hedingham mass shooting case

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A new court motion was filed by attorneys for the young man charged in the 2022 Raleigh mass shooting in the Hedingham neighborhood.

According to court documents, attorneys for Austin Thompson say he intends to use, in his defense, claims of "diminished capacity -- and voluntary intoxication due to therapeutic doses of a prescribed medication."

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

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He is accused of killing five people, including his brother and a Raleigh police officer, on Oct. 20, 2022.

A trial date is set for February.

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