Man, 34, To Stand Trial In Two Fatal East Lansing Shootings

EAST LANSING (AP/WWJ) — A 34-year-old East Lansing man will stand trial in the fatal shootings of a neighbor and a pharmacist.

The Lansing State Journal reports that Ricard Taylor was bound over Friday following a preliminary examination in East Lansing's 54B District Court.

Taylor is charged with two counts of murder in the May 12 slayings of 35-year-old Michael Addo at a Rite Aid store and 27-year-old Jordan Rogers in his East Lansing home.

A Lansing police detective testified that Taylor told investigators he didn't like Addo's answers to questions about side effects from over-the-counter eye drops.

Rogers was shot and killed minutes after Addo was slain.

Although Taylor was found competent to stand trial, defense attorney Keith Watson said it hasn't been determined if he can be held criminally responsible.

Taylor, who lived next door to Rogers, was arrested in May following an hour-long standoff; and Lansing Police Public Information Officer Robert Merritt said investigators believe he is responsible for both killings.

"An actual motive, we're not releasing at this point," Merritt told WWJ Newsradio 950's Sandra McNeil just after the incident. "But we are stating that this did not involve a robbery…for money or narcotics," Merritt said.

District Court Judge Richard Ball ordered Taylor 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 Watson.

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