KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A man who shot and killed a young father, and injured three responding officers will now find out whether he is comptetent to stand trial at a later date.
35-year-old William Paul Jones is facing 19 charges for the death of Christopher Neal at his Comstock Township home on the night of Sunday December 1st, 2019.
Police reports detail how Jones allegedly had friends drive him around the Kalamazoo area at gunpoint before being dropped off randomly near Neal’s residence. After entering the home he killed Neal while taking his wife and 2-year-old daughter hostage as police surrounded the location.
Three officers were shot by the suspect, including Michigan State Police Trooper Mark Fletcher, Kalamazoo Sheriff’s deputy Noah Susick, and Kalamazoo Public Safety Officer Caleb Jones. All three of the law enforcement officers suffered non life-threatening injuries resulting from the standoff and were later released from medical treatment.
On December 11th, 2019 Jones attorney requested that his client undergo a competency evaluation to determine if he was fit to stand trial. Upon being ordered to conduct an evaluation the State Center for Forensic Psychology has 60 days to provide a report and recommendation to the court overseeing the case.
Jones was initially due for a hearing before Kalamazoo County District Court Judge Christopher Haenicke to learn the status of his competency on Thursday, February 19th, but a delayed final report has caused the appearance to be rescheduled to on or before April 15th.
In an article by MLive, the judge said the competency tests ordered had been completed by the forensic center, and the required report would be completed after they recieve the results of the tests.
If he is determined to be competent to stand trial, Jones faces 19 charges including one count of open murder, breaking and entering resulting in murder, and assault with intent to murder a police officer among others, all of which carry a possible life sentence in prison.
