@meghannmcuniff: A North Carolina woman who was shot four times by a 15-year-old boy who also killed five people testified today about forgiving him because of her Christian faith. "I mean, I don't have any hard feelings about what happened to me," Marcilee "Lynn" Gardner said. "I look at it as part of my journey, when I got convicted to forgive, when I heard that Scripture. And what I believe is Lord Jesus died for me my sins and forgiveness, and if it's good enough for Him, it's good enough for me." She said she's obedient to God's way and "I know what peace is." "I was at peace prior to the shooting. When I was in the hospital, I received so much love from people I didn't even know, and that's because of I don't just talk to talk. I walk the walk. So I know that doing the right thing because it's the right thing to do, works for Lynn, and that's why Lynn does," Gardner testified. "Yes, ma'am," said Lorrin Freeman, the top elected district attorney in Wake County. Gardner was sitting with her friend Nicole Connors on Connors' porch in Raleigh on Oct. 14, 2022, when Austin Thompson shot them both, killing Connors and injuring Gardner. You can watch her testify about the shooting and waking up in a hospital bed here @Meghann Cuniff. Gardner testified at Thompson's sentencing today (Tuesday, February 3) before Judge Paul Ridgeway in North Carolina's 10th Judicial District. Thompson, now, 18, pleaded guilty last week to all charges, including five counts of first-degree murder. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that courts must consider "mitigating characteristics of youth" before imposing a life sentence on someone convicted of a homicide committed when they were under the age of 18. Many courts call such hearings "Miller hearings" in reference to the name of the SCOTUS case, Miller v. Alabama. Thompson's hearing is expected to last into next week. #law #crime #court #legal

Meghann Cuniff

Open In TikTok:

Region: US

Tuesday 03 February 2026 22:56:37 GMT