Archive · 22 Jan 2026
Teen Pleads Guilty to North Carolina Mass Shooting
An 18-year-old named Austin David Thompson pleaded guilty to killing five people, including his brother and a police officer, in a shooting that happened in North Carolina when he was 15.
He admitted to the crimes in court and will be sentenced in February.
The judge can decide to give him life in prison without the chance to get out or make him wait at least 25 years before he can ask for parole.
The police found many guns and lots of bullets in his family's home.
Austin's family liked to go hunting.
No one knows exactly why he did it, but he looked up information about mass shootings online.
His father also got in trouble for not storing his gun safely.
Austin David Thompson, 15 at the time, pleaded guilty to a 2022 mass shooting in Raleigh, North Carolina, that killed five people, including his brother and a police officer.
He pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and one count of assault of an officer with a gun.
The sentencing hearing is set for February 2, 2024, with potential sentences ranging from life in prison without parole to eligibility for parole after 25 years.
Thompson's motive remains unclear due to a brain injury he suffered from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but his online search history showed interest in mass shootings.
Investigators seized 11 firearms and 160 boxes of ammunition from the Thompson home, as the family were avid hunters.
- Who
- Austin David Thompson, 15 at the time of the attack
- What
- Mass shooting that killed 5 people, including his brother and a police officer
- When
- October 13, 2022
- Where
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Why
- Motive not fully explained, but online search history showed interest in mass shootings
- Defendant
- Austin David Thompson
- Age at Time of Attack
- 15
- Victims
- 5 (including his brother and a police officer)
- Charges
- 5 counts of first-degree murder, 2 counts of attempted first-degree murder, 2 counts of assault with a deadly weapon, 1 count of assault of an officer with a gun
- Sentencing Hearing
- February 2, 2024
- Potential Sentence
- Life in prison without parole or eligible for parole after 25 years
- Firearms Seized
- 11 firearms and 160 boxes of ammunition