The legal proceedings for Austin Thompson, the perpetrator of the 2022 Hedingham mass shooting in Raleigh, North Carolina, reached a definitive conclusion this week. On 13 February 2026, a Wake County judge sentenced the now 18-year-old to five consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole.
The sentencing follows Thompson’s guilty plea on 21 January 2026, to five counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon. The charges stem from the 13 October 2022 attack in which Thompson, then 15, killed five people—including his 16-year-old brother—and wounded two others while armed with a shotgun and a handgun.
Key Developments in the Sentencing Hearing
The week-long hearing in Raleigh featured intense testimony from medical experts, family members, and survivors. The defence sought a sentence that would allow for the possibility of parole, focusing on Thompson’s age at the time of the crimes and his mental state.
- Medical Arguments: Defence experts argued that a genetic deficiency may have inhibited Thompson’s ability to process certain acne medications, suggesting the drugs played a role in his psychological “unravelling.”
- Brain Injury: Thompson’s mother testified that her son suffered a significant brain injury during his eventual confrontation with police, stating he now “feels no emotion” and has limited cognitive recall of the event.
- Character Testimony: Former teachers described Thompson as a “quiet but conscientious” student prior to the shooting, testifying that there were no visible “red flags” in his academic history.
Final Judgement
Despite the defence’s plea for leniency based on his youth, the prosecution emphasized the calculated nature of the “killing spree” that terrorized the Hedingham neighbourhood. The judge ultimately ruled that the severity of the crimes warranted the maximum penalty under North Carolina law. Thompson will serve his five life sentences consecutively, ensuring he remains in custody for the remainder of his life.
The victims of the 2022 attack were identified as James Thompson (16), Nicole Connors (52), Mary Marshall (35), Susan Karnatz (49), and Raleigh Police Officer Gabriel Torres (29).