FRESNO (KMJ) — The alleged Downtown Fresno shooter will receive another mental health evaluation.
Judge W. Kent Hamlin made that decision inside Fresno County Superior Court Tuesday morning, appointing psychiatrist Dr. Howard Terrell to examine the suspect.
Kori Ali Muhammad was already present within Department 30 before proceedings began, and his was the first case heard. The suspect stood in a yellow jumpsuit, with a pair of Fresno County Sheriff’s Deputies behind him.
It comes after a previous mental health report, presented to the court in June, established that he was incompetent to stand trial. Fresno County District Attorney’s Office continues to review that assessment (click here to read more).
If the DA’s office agrees that Muhammad is mentally unfit to face the charges against him that would send him to a state hospital; if it disagrees that would start a separate jury trial to establish his competency.
“If he’s found to be incompetent by the jury then he would go to a state hospital until he regains competency, at which point he would come back to Fresno,” explains Assistant District Attorney Steve Wright.
“If on the other hand the jury were to find that he is competent to stand trial we would then proceed on the criminal case.”
There is even a suggestion that a change in location may be in the works.
The new court appointed psychiatrist will both evaluate the suspect’s competency and establish if he should receive anti-psychotic medication.
“Let black people go with reparations or the natural disasters will increase,” shouted Muhammad as he left the courtroom.
The defendant remains in custody. Both the report from the newly appointed psychiatrist, and the District Attorney’s response to the original report, are due by the next hearing. Proceedings are scheduled to continue on August 22nd.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
