A North Carolina man who was only 15 years old when he carried out a deadly shooting rampage in Raleigh has formally admitted his guilt, bringing legal closure to one of the most disturbing crimes in the city’s recent history.
Austin Thompson entered a guilty plea in Wake County Superior Court on Wednesday, accepting responsibility for multiple violent offenses connected to a 2022 shooting spree that left six people dead and several others injured. The crimes occurred on October 13, 2022, beginning inside a family residence and continuing along a popular outdoor trail in east Raleigh.
According to court records, the violence started at the Thompson family home, where Austin Thompson fatally shot his older brother, James Thompson, who was 16 at the time. The attacks then moved outside into the Hedingham neighborhood and along the Neuse River Greenway Trail, a normally quiet area frequented by walkers and cyclists.
Authorities confirmed that Thompson used a shotgun during the attacks. Five victims died at the scene or shortly afterward: Nicole Connors, Susan Karnatz, Mary Marshall, off-duty Raleigh police officer Gabriel Torres, and James Thompson. A sixth victim, Marcille “Lynn” Gardner, survived the initial shooting but later died from complications related to her injuries in 2023.
Following the shootings, law enforcement launched a large-scale search involving multiple agencies. Thompson was eventually located hiding in a nearby outbuilding, ending a manhunt that had placed the city on edge for hours.
In court, Thompson pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree murder, four counts of attempted murder, and several counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. In total, he had originally faced nearly 50 criminal charges.
Because Thompson was a minor at the time of the shootings, the case remained within the juvenile justice system for several years. Under North Carolina law, juveniles charged with serious crimes such as murder are not automatically transferred to adult court. Such a transfer requires a judge to determine both probable cause and whether the juvenile is capable of rehabilitation.
That legal distinction generated significant public debate, particularly given the scale of the violence and the number of victims involved.
As part of the plea agreement, Thompson was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years, along with an additional consecutive sentence of 10 to 21 years for the remaining charges. He will begin serving his sentence under the supervision of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.
Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said the resolution was intended to spare victims’ families from years of appeals and courtroom proceedings. She noted that the case involved extraordinary tragedy on multiple levels, including the loss experienced by the Thompson family itself.
During the hearing, relatives of the victims delivered emotional impact statements, describing lasting grief, trauma, and the profound absence left behind by their loved ones.
The case drew national attention and reignited conversations around juvenile justice, access to firearms, and community safety. While the legal process has now concluded, the emotional impact of the 2022 Raleigh shootings continues to resonate throughout the community.
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