Father of accused Raleigh mass shooter, pleads guilty to weapon charge
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Alan Thompson, the father of accused Raleigh mass shooter Austin Thompson, has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor of failing to store a firearm in a manner to protect a minor.
Alan, 61, made an emotional appearance in a Wake County courtroom Wednesday morning for his disposition hearing where he was seen crying as a prosecutor read aloud the victims’ names.
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Investigators say on October 13, 2022, Alan’s then 15-year-old son Austin used his improperly stored weapon to go on a rampage, killing five people and injuring two others in and around the Hedingham neighborhood.
The judge, who accepted Alan’s guilty plea, called this an “epic tragedy…for the victims, for our community and for the Thompson family.”
As part of the plea agreement, Alan will undergo one year of unsupervised probation. He also faces a suspended sentence of 45 days in jail. That time will not be served unless he violates his probation terms…