RALEIGH, N.C. — The defense team for a teenager charged in a mass shooting that left five individuals dead in Raleigh has laid out its strategy for the trial. Austin Thompson’s attorneys announced their intent to argue that he experienced diminished capacity and was under the influence of legally prescribed medication during the incident.
Thompson, who was 15 at the time of the shooting in October 2022, is accused of carrying out a violent attack near a local greenway. Among the victims were several community members, including a police officer and Thompson’s older brother, James. The shooting spree resulted in injuries to two others, including a police K-9 officer.
Law enforcement stated the crime scene spanned nearly two miles, beginning in a residential area before extending to the Neuse River Greenway. Investigators found multiple weapons discarded near an outbuilding where Thompson was eventually located. Items recovered included a handgun, a shotgun, two knives, and numerous rounds of ammunition.
Reports indicate that the series of shootings unfolded over approximately four and a half hours. The timeline began shortly after 5:00 p.m., when the first calls about shots fired were reported. Just three minutes later, additional reports indicated two people were down in a nearby neighborhood. Police officers arrived on scene by 5:19 p.m. and encountered frantic calls about a young man with a shotgun fleeing into the woods.
The situation escalated rapidly, as Thompson allegedly shot and killed his brother early in the evening. Officers later discovered Thompson hiding in an outbuilding, where he purportedly exchanged gunfire with police, injuring Officer Casey Clark in the process. After hours of negotiation and tactical maneuvers, police apprehended Thompson around 9:34 p.m. He was found with a gunshot wound and subsequently taken to a hospital.
In addition to five counts of murder, Thompson faces multiple charges related to attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and attacking a law-enforcement officer. A judge has ruled that he will be tried as an adult and remains in custody without bond. His father, Alan Thompson, was cited for not storing a firearm securely, which allowed his son access to the weapon.
As experts prepare for the trial, a court filing indicates that Thompson’s trial is currently set for February 2026, having been postponed from an earlier date of September 2025. Deadline for expert reports has been set for mid-October 2025.
The distressing events of that day continue to reverberate through the Raleigh community, as families and friends of the victims seek justice and accountability for the tragic loss of life.