East Lansing Man Charged In Killings Near MSU To Get Mental Exam
EAST LANSING (WWJ/AP) - A 34-year-old man charged in two fatal shootings minutes apart near Michigan State University will undergo tests to determine if he is competent to stand trial.
District Court Judge Richard Ball on Tuesday ordered Ricard Taylor of East Lansing to be evaluated at a state psychiatric facility. The Lansing State Journal reports the request for testing was made through an agreement involving prosecutors and defense lawyer Keith Watson.
Taylor is charged two counts of murder and five gun-related charges.
Police say 35-year-old pharmacist Michael Addo of Mason was killed on May 12 at a Rite Aid store at Frandor Shopping Center in Lansing Township, just west of MSU.
Jordan Rogers, 27, was shot about 30 minutes later, just about a mile away — on Coolidge Road, northeast of the campus in East Lansing
Nearby schools were on lockdown and Michigan State sent out an alert to students and staff.
Taylor lived next door to Rogers. He was arrested following a standoff in connection with both shootings.
According to Lansing Police Public Information Officer Robert Merritt, investigators don't believe that the shootings were linked to a robbery.
Officials have not discussed Taylor's motive, although friends have said he claimed to be schizophrenic, according to the Journal.
Taylor is a local musician, who last week told a judge he was awaiting employment with the U.S. government.
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