Deion Patterson, the man accused of a mass shooting in Midtown Atlanta, has been found not competent to stand trial by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Eric Dunaway. This judgment follows a bench trial on October 3, where a psychologist testified regarding Patterson’s mental state. According to
FOX 5 Atlanta
, Dr. LeRoy Reese found the suspect was unable to recall key details of the shooting, with Patterson himself describing the events as a “blur” and having vague memories of locations without specific actions.
Under the law in Georgia, Patterson is to be sent to the Department of Behavioral Health for a 90-day evaluation period. This is to determine if there’s a substantial probability of him attaining competency in the foreseeable future. According to Judge Dunaway’s order, Patterson was incapable of understanding the nature of the charges or the object of the proceedings against him and incapable of assisting his attorney in the preparation of his defense. This comes from an article by
Atlanta News First
, which highlights the suspect’s compromised mental state.
Patterson’s charges stem from the May 3, 2023, incident where he allegedly opened fire in a medical building’s waiting room on West Peachtree Street, resulting in the death of 38-year-old Amy St. Pierre and injuries to four others. According to officials, Patterson subsequently fled the crime scene and was apprehended following an exhaustive manhunt in Cobb County. His litany of charges includes murder, felony murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
If Patterson is found capable to eventually stand trial, proceedings will be scheduled to move forward. However, should his mental state not improve, the Department may extend his treatment. The court order further specifies that if Patterson is unlikely to achieve competency, he could be returned to the custody of the Fulton County Sheriff and face a possible civil commitment. Amidst these proceedings, Patterson’s mother has stated that her son, an honorably discharged veteran from the US Coast Guard, struggled with mental illness, a condition that the Coast Guard had previously been assisting with, as reported by
FOX 5 Atlanta
.
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