Father of accused Hedingham mass shooting suspect pleads guilty to gun storage charge
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The father of the teen accused in the Raleigh mass shooting pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of storing a firearm in a manner accessible to a minor.
Alan Thompson, 61, was sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation.
The plea deal comes nearly two years after police say Thompson's son Austin went on a shooting spree in the Hedingham neighborhood in Raleigh.
According to investigators, on October 13, 2022, Austin Thompson, who was 15 years old at the time, used a weapon from their house to kill five people, including his older brother James. Two other people were shot but survived.
In the initial investigations, authorities said they seized 11 firearms and 160 boxes of ammunition, including four shotguns, five rifles, and two pistols.
In court Wednesday, the prosecution showed there was an unlocked box with a firearm and loaded magazine on his nightside table.
Alan's defense said he is living the unthinkable after losing hiatus son James and knowing his other son will likely spend the rest of his life in jail.
It was also noted there were no warning signs for Austin. Alan had spoken to Austin two times right before the shooting with no indications there was something wrong.
The prosecution agreed to Alan's cooperation with the police.
The prosecution also added they have been watching other cases across the country in Georgia and Michigan where parents are being charged and held accountable for acts of gun violence committed by their children. However, they said this is not one of those cases.
The judge ended by saying this is an epic tragedy for the victims, the community and the Thompson family.
Austin is facing five counts of murder in the deaths of James Thompson (his brother), Officer Gabriel Torres, Mary Marshall, Nicole Connors and Susan Karnartz.
His trial is currently set for September 2025.
Arsenal found with accused shooter during arrest: Warrant
