5 killed in 2022 Raleigh shooting in Hedingham, shooter Austin Thompson pleads guilty to all charges
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Less than a month before his trial was set to begin in February, the accused Raleigh mass shooter pleaded guilty to all charges on Wednesday afternoon in Wake County.
Austin Thompson was charged with killing five people in the Hedingham neighborhood on Oct. 13, 2022. Thompson kept his head down during most of the proceedings, but at points did nod his head as the prosecution was going through each of the shootings.
He pleaded guilty to 10 counts. Five of those were first-degree murder charges.
New details shared in court revealed that Raleigh Police Officer Gabriel Torres was in the car, leaving to head to work, and was on the phone with his wife waiting for her to return so his kiss his daughter goodbye, when the prosecution says Thompson walked up and shot Torres three times at close range. His wife heard the shots being fired.
Mary Marshall was killed on the greenway trying to find her dog. The prosecution says that when officers discovered her body, the dog was still by her side.
The prosecution says there is evidence prior to the tragedy, Thompson was researching online other mass shootings and possible charges he could face as a minor.
The first victim was Thompson's own brother James.
Both went to the school that day, came home, and had been playing video games.
"He shot his brother in the back of the head," said Wake County Assistant District Attorney Patrick Latour. "He did not see it coming."
James was then stabbed 57 times.
Thompson's parents were not here.
His father, Alan, pleaded guilty in September 2024 to a weapons charge.
Thompson is scheduled to be sentenced on February 2nd.
The plea hearing comes a day after Thompson's legal team filed a motion stating that he wanted to plead guilty to all charges to spare the community of a trial and inflict more trauma. It goes on to say that by moving straight to the sentencing hearing, he hopes what comes out during sentencing brings peace and as much closure as possible.
