Teen sentenced to life without parole for North Carolina mass shooting

Judge rejects arguments that the 18-year-old shooter deserved chance for release decades from now

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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A judge sentenced an 18-year-old who acknowledged killing five people in a North Carolina mass shooting to life in prison without parole on Friday. The shooter, Austin David Thompson, was 15 years old during the October 2022 attack that began at his Raleigh home when he shot and stabbed his 16-year-old brother, James. Thompson then fatally shot four others, including an off-duty police officer, in his neighborhood and along a greenway before being arrested in a shed after a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenges of addressing gun violence and mental health issues among young people. The judge rejected arguments that the shooter deserved a chance at parole, citing the 'irreparable corruption' reflected in his months of planning and the 'greater display of malice' in the attack.

The details

Thompson pleaded guilty last month to five counts of first-degree murder and five other counts. The judge had the option to sentence him to life in prison with the chance for parole after at least 25 years, but did not give him that opportunity. Prosecutors revealed a handwritten note found at Thompson's home that said the 'reason I did this is because I hate humans they are destroying the planet/earth,' and that he killed his brother 'because he would get in my way.'

  • On October 13, 2022, Thompson carried out the mass shooting attack.
  • In February 2026, Thompson was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

The players

Austin David Thompson

An 18-year-old who acknowledged killing five people in a North Carolina mass shooting and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

James Thompson

Thompson's 16-year-old brother, who he shot and stabbed at the start of the attack.

Gabriel Torres

An off-duty Raleigh police officer who was fatally shot during the attack.

Nicole Connors

One of the four other victims fatally shot by Thompson during the attack.

Mary Marshall

One of the four other victims fatally shot by Thompson during the attack.

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What they’re saying

“It's hard to conceive of a greater display of malice”

— Judge Paul Ridgeway, Superior Court Judge (wbal.com)

“And the thing that made it change was not some acne medication. It was the defendant's knowing, researched, well-thought-out, planned, decisive actions.”

— Patrick Latour, Wake County assistant prosecutor (wbal.com)

“We both lost our children, one at the hand of the other. We never saw this coming and still cannot make sense of it.”

— Elise Thompson, Mother of shooter (wbal.com)

What’s next

Thompson's attorneys have announced plans to appeal the life without parole sentence.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address gun violence, mental health challenges, and the prevention of mass shootings, especially among young people. The judge's rejection of the 'acne medication' defense and focus on the shooter's extensive planning and 'irreparable corruption' highlights the complex factors involved in these devastating crimes.