Two individuals dressed in black t-shirts are standing side by side in front of a white-framed door with a black border.

Austin Thompson’s (right) first victim was his brother, 16-year-old James Thompson (left). (Image: -)

A teenage boy unleashed gunfire on a suburban street – murdering five people. Austin David Thompson’s casualties included his own brother when, wielding a shotgun and handgun, he embarked on a horrifying killing spree near his residence. The 15 year old lad was ultimately apprehended in a shed after a prolonged standoff with officers.

However, the accused’s legal team have argued the youth “cannot explain why he committed this shooting” owing to a brain injury he himself suffered during the incident in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Despite this, Thompson today 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. He faces sentencing on February 2 but, given his age when the attack occurred, he is ineligible for the death penalty.

Yet Robert Steele, who was engaged to one of the victims when she died, told journalists following the hearing that condemning Thompson to life imprisonment without parole is the proper course of action. Mr Steele declared: “That’s justice. He took five people’s lives, he tried to take two others.”

 

Thompson, now 18, had been scheduled to face trial next month but entered the guilty pleas today. His barristers stated that avoiding a trial would “save the community and the victims from as much additional infliction of trauma as possible.”

During today’s proceedings, Wake County Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway questioned the teenager, who wore a quarter-zip jumper and trousers.

The court was told how Thompson initially shot and then repeatedly stabbed his brother James, whose body was discovered in the family’s residence in the Hedingham neighbourhood of Raleigh on October 13, 2022.

Mr Latour stated Thompson, equipped with a shotgun and handgun, subsequently shot several neighbours, killing Nicole Connors, 52, and then off-duty Raleigh police Officer Gabriel Torres, 29. Another neighbour who sustained injuries survived.

Afterwards, Thompson fatally shot two others on a nearby greenway trail; Mary Marshall, 34, and 49 year old Susan Karnatz. Ms Marshall’s partner, Mr Steele, conveyed his sorrow following today’s proceedings.

An individual is seated at a desk, deeply engrossed in writing on a piece of paper with a pen. The desk is cluttered with severa

Austin Thompson signs documents pleading guilty to five counts of murder in Wake County Superior Court on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed) (Image: AP)

A police vehicle is parked on the side of the road with two individuals standing nearby, one of whom appears to be conversing wi

Residents talk with a police officer in front of the house where the suspected shooter lived on Sahalee Way following a shooting in Raleigh, N.C., Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. Several people were shot and killed by a gunman in the neighborhood Thursday night, Oct. 13. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) (Image: AP)

Wearing camouflage and carrying a rucksack, Thompson was discovered by law enforcement in a nearby shed and apprehended following the standoff. Thursday’s proceedings, however, offered little further clarification regarding the teenager’s motive.

Mr Latour revealed a note written by Thompson acknowledged why he killed his brother but that information wasn’t disclosed on Thursday. The note was ordered to remain sealed for now.

Mr Latour also stated records showing Thompson’s online search history demonstrated that he had looked for information on mass shootings and related material. A Thompson solicitor said the report with those records may be contested at sentencing.