An 18-year-old former minor, Austin Thompson, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Wake County Superior Court to five counts of first-degree murder and related charges for a October 13, 2022, rampage in the Hedingham neighborhood of Raleigh. The killings began at about 4:20 p.m. when a then-15-year-old Thompson fatally shot and stabbed his brother, James Thompson, inside their home and continued as he encountered four neighbors. Prosecutors say the victims included Raleigh Police Officer Gabriel Torres, 29; Nicole Connors, 52; Mary Marshall, 34; and Susan Karnatz, 49. A sentencing hearing is set for Feb. 2, and Thompson faces the possibility of life in prison without parole; capital punishment was not available because he was a minor when the crimes occurred.
Key Takeaways
- Austin Thompson, now 18, pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and assault on a law enforcement officer.
- The spree began at approximately 4:20 p.m. on Oct. 13, 2022, in the Hedingham area of Raleigh; the initial victim was Thompson’s brother, James, killed inside their home.
- Four additional victims — Nicole Connors (52), Gabriel Torres (29), Mary Marshall (34) and Susan Karnatz (49) — were killed after encountering the gunman in the neighborhood.
- Prosecutors say Thompson used a .22-caliber rifle and shotgun fire; Officer Torres was struck at close range as he was leaving for work, according to court filings.
- During the pursuit, Thompson shot himself in the head, survived, and was taken into custody and later to the hospital.
- Thompson told the court he was taking medication but said it did not influence his decision to plead guilty.
- Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 2 and may last multiple days; because he was a juvenile at the time of the crimes, he cannot receive the death penalty and faces life without parole instead.
Background
The killings occurred in a residential subdivision in Raleigh, drawing sharp attention to questions about adolescent violent crime and community safety. Hedingham is a suburban neighborhood; local law enforcement responded to multiple locations as the events unfolded on Oct. 13, 2022. The fact that one victim was an on-duty or on-the-way-to-work Raleigh police officer heightened media and public scrutiny and intensified pressure on officials to explain how a 15-year-old acquired firearms used in the attack.
Legally, the case has tracked through Wake County Superior Court in the adult system: Thompson was charged as a juvenile initially but faced adult-level first-degree murder indictments. Under North Carolina law, certain serious offenses committed by minors can be prosecuted in adult court; because Thompson was 15 at the time, state statute precludes the death penalty, leaving life sentences as the maximum. The case therefore sits at the intersection of juvenile justice policy, prosecutorial discretion and public demands for accountability.
Main Event
According to prosecutors and court reports, the sequence began inside the Thompson residence when Austin, then 15, killed his brother James with both a gunshot and stabbing. Shortly after, investigators say he left the home and fired on neighbors he encountered across Hedingham, killing four people at separate locations. The incidents were not described as targeted encounters with known adversaries; prosecutors have said the victims encountered the shooter at random as they were in the neighborhood.
One victim, Gabriel Torres, 29, was a Raleigh police officer who was shot as he pulled out of his driveway on his way to work; prosecutors said he did not have an opportunity to draw his weapon before being struck at close range. Other victims — Nicole Connors (52), Mary Marshall (34) and Susan Karnatz (49) — died after brief encounters with the gunman as events unfolded across the subdivision.
Pursuing officers and police dogs located Thompson after the shootings. Prosecutors reported that he had shot himself in the head during or shortly after the pursuit; he survived that wound and was transported to a hospital before later appearing in court. In Wednesday’s hearing, Thompson wore a burgundy quarter-zip sweater with a collared shirt as court staff read charges and prosecutors summarized the sequence of events for the record.
During his allocution to Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway, Thompson acknowledged he was taking medication but stated it did not affect his choice to enter guilty pleas. The court record indicates the plea was entered just weeks before a trial that had been scheduled for February, accelerating resolution of a case that attracted statewide attention when it occurred.
Analysis & Implications
The case raises immediate legal questions about sentencing youth for the most serious crimes. Because Thompson was a minor in 2022, state law removes the death penalty as a sentencing option; prosecutors can instead seek life without parole. That potential outcome — life incarceration for someone arrested at 15 and now 18 — will likely renew debate about juvenile culpability, brain development and the aims of punishment versus rehabilitation.
For the Hedingham community and Raleigh broadly, the killings produced acute trauma and a policy spotlight on firearm access and youth safety. Local leaders, schools and law enforcement will face sustained pressure to justify prevention strategies and to explain how weapons used in this attack were obtained. Whether the case prompts legislative or administrative changes will depend in part on political dynamics in the General Assembly and on recommendations from law enforcement and public health officials.
The defendant’s statement that medication did not affect his plea may narrow some legal avenues but does not eliminate questions about competency, mental health history or the role of treatment in pretrial decisions. Defense filings, medical records and competency evaluations — some of which may become public during sentencing or appeals — will shape post-conviction debate. Attorneys for both sides may also litigate facts about planning or premeditation if those issues influence sentencing severity.
Comparison & Data
| Victim | Age | Role/Relation | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Thompson | Not specified | Brother | Oct. 13, 2022 |
| Gabriel Torres | 29 | Raleigh police officer | Oct. 13, 2022 |
| Nicole Connors | 52 | Neighborhood resident | Oct. 13, 2022 |
| Mary Marshall | 34 | Neighborhood resident | Oct. 13, 2022 |
| Susan Karnatz | 49 | Neighborhood resident | Oct. 13, 2022 |
The table above summarizes known victim details from the court record and reporting. Five people were killed in a roughly concentrated time window on Oct. 13, 2022; one victim’s age was not specified in the public reports. The concentration of multiple, rapid killings in a suburban neighborhood is notable in local crime data, which typically show lower rates of fatal shootings in residential subdivisions compared with urban centers.
Reactions & Quotes
Courtroom observers noted Thompson showed limited visible emotion as prosecutors recounted the sequence of events. Family members, neighbors and city officials have publicly emphasized grief and calls for answers in local interviews since the 2022 incident.
“I was under medication but it did not impact my decision to plead guilty.”
Austin Thompson
“Torres didn’t have a chance to pull a weapon.”
Prosecutors (court summary)
Unconfirmed
- Motive: Investigators and prosecutors have not publicly established a clearly confirmed motive for the killings.
- Medication details: The specific medications Thompson referenced and their potential effects have not been disclosed in public filings.
- Weapon procurement: Public reports have not detailed how the firearms were obtained or whether any additional charges related to possession will be filed.
- Prior treatment or services: Whether Thompson had prior mental-health treatment, school interventions or juvenile system involvement has not been fully documented in the public record.
Bottom Line
This case resolves criminal liability through guilty pleas but leaves open many policy and community questions. The Feb. 2 sentencing will determine whether Thompson receives life without parole and will set a timetable for finality and any appeals. For the Hedingham neighborhood and Raleigh, the immediate priorities are victim support, community healing and a sober review of prevention measures related to youth access to firearms and mental-health services.
Watch for court filings and competency or mitigation evidence that may appear before or during the Feb. 2 hearing; those materials will shape legal arguments about culpability and appropriate punishment. Local officials and state policymakers may use the case as a prompt for examining juvenile prosecution thresholds, gun-safety policy and supports for families and schools to reduce the risk of similar tragedies.