Executive Summary
- Austin Thompson’s sentencing phase begins Tuesday, February 3, in Wake County.
- Thompson pleaded guilty to five counts of murder on January 21 to avoid a trial.
- The defense cited a desire to spare the community further trauma as the reason for the plea.
- Proceedings are expected to last up to two weeks.
The sentencing phase for Austin Thompson, the 18-year-old who pleaded guilty to the October 2022 mass shooting in Raleigh’s Hedingham neighborhood, is scheduled to begin on Tuesday in Wake County. The proceedings replace the originally scheduled trial after Thompson admitted guilt to the charges.
According to court filings referenced by ABC11, Thompson and his legal team entered a guilty plea on January 21 for five counts of murder and additional charges. In the defense motion, Thompson stated that the decision to plead guilty was made to spare the community the trauma of a contested trial. The defense expressed hope that moving directly to the sentencing hearing would facilitate peace and closure for those affected by the tragedy.
The sentencing hearing is expected to last up to two weeks. The victims of the October 13, 2022, shooting were identified by authorities as Nicole Connors, 52; Susan Karnatz, 49; Mary Marshall, 35; Gabriel Torres, 29; and the assailant’s brother, James Thompson, 16.
Judicial Proceedings
The transition from a trial to a sentencing phase marks a pivotal moment in this high-profile case. By bypassing the guilt phase, the court’s resources will now be dedicated exclusively to hearing victim impact statements and evaluating aggravating or mitigating factors that will influence the final sentence. While the guilty plea resolves the question of culpability, the sentencing phase adheres to strict procedural standards to ensure the penalty is administered in accordance with North Carolina law. It is important to note that despite the admission of guilt, the judicial system maintains rigorous due process protocols throughout the final sentencing determination.
