Hedingham shooting suspect trial to begin in February 2026

BE SEPTEMBER. 25TH. CARLY

HAYNES, WRAL NEWS LIVE IN

RALEIGH. THANK YOU, CARLY.

NEW TODAY A WAKE COUNTY JUDGE

SAYS HE'S DOES NOT PLAN TO PUSH

BACK THE TRIAL DATE FOR THE

HEADING HIM MASS SHOOTING

SUSPECT. SO AS IT STANDS.

>> AUSTIN THOMPSON'S TRIAL WILL

BE HELD ON FEBRUARY SECOND

WRAL'S GRACE HOLLAND IS HERE

IN STUDIO WITH WHAT PLAYED OUT

IN COURT THIS MORNING. GRACE.

>> LENA THIS MORNING. ALSO

THOMPSON'S DEFENSE TEAM AND

PROSECUTORS WERE IN COURT FOR

WHAT'S CALLED A HOMICIDE STATUS

HEARING. ALL HOMICIDE CASES

HAVE THESE HEARINGS LEADING UP

TO TRIAL. IT'S ESSENTIALLY A

CHECK IN WITH THE JUDGE TO

ENSURE EVERYTHING IS ON TRACK

TODAY WE LEARNED THOMPSON'S

ATTORNEYS ARE STILL WAITING

FOR MENTAL HEALTH REPORTS FROM

PHYSICIANS. THEY SAY THOSE

REPORTS ARE NEEDED BEFORE THEY

CAN DETERMINE HOW THEY'RE GOING

TO DEFEND THOMPSON. PROSECUTORS

SAY THEY ALSO NEED THAT

INFORMATION BEFORE HIRING THEIR

OWN MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS.

THE TRIAL WAS ORIGINALLY

SCHEDULED TO BEGIN THIS MONTH.

BUT THOMPSON'S ATTORNEYS ASKED

FOR MORE TIME TO PREPARE,

SAYING YOUR CLIENT HAD A BRAIN

INJURY AND THEY NEEDED TIME TO

REVIEW ALL THE EVIDENCE.

TODAY'S HEARING THE JUDGE SAYS

HE IS NOT INCLINED TO MOVE THE

DATE AGAIN. A TRIAL IS

SCHEDULED TO START AS LENA SAID

ON FEBRUARY 2ND. AND BY THE