Raleigh Mass Shooter Sentenced to Life in Prison

RALEIGH, N.C. — The gunman behind the deadliest mass shooting in Raleigh history was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Thursday.

Judge Paul Ridgeway delivered the sentence to Austin Thompson after detailing the harm caused by the attack and honoring the five people who were killed: James Thompson, Nicole Connors, Gabriel Torres, Susan Karnatz, and Mary Marshall. Family members of the victims, including the wife of fallen Raleigh police officer Gabriel Torres, grew emotional as the court recognized their loved ones.

Before announcing the sentence, Ridgeway described Thompson’s actions as showing “an utter and callous disregard for human life,” citing evidence of planning and premeditation. The judge pointed to Thompson’s online search history as proof the attack was deliberate, calling the case an example of “great malice.” He concluded Thompson showed what he described as “irreparable corruption,” making life without parole appropriate.

The judge rejected the defense’s argument that Thompson was in a dissociative, “zombie-like” state caused by acne medication at the time of the shooting, saying the evidence did not support that claim.

Thompson received five consecutive life sentences without parole for the first-degree murders. He was also sentenced to additional prison time for the attempted murders and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury on Lynn Gardner and Officer Casey Clark. Those charges carry a minimum sentence of more than 13 years.

As Thompson was led from the courtroom in handcuffs, victims’ families reacted emotionally, marking the end of a legal process that stretched nearly three and a half years.

Before sentencing, Thompson’s defense team said they believed a sentence of life without parole was unconstitutional and noted their objection for the record. They later confirmed they plan to appeal the judge’s ruling.