KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A judge has ruled that a man involved in a hostage crisis late last year is fit stand trial.
35-year-old William Paul Jones faces 19 felony counts for the death of Christopher Neal on December 1st, 2019. The 22-year-old father was shot by Jones after he broke into his Comstock Township home.
An ensuing standoff saw Neal’s wife and infant child hide as officers from multiple departments raced to respond.
Jones was previously described as engaging in erratic behavior in the days leading up to the incident. Two friends told police that the man held them at gunpoint and forced the pair to drive him around the Kalamazoo area, before finally being dropped off just blocks from Neal’s home.
Investigators say that both Neal and Jones did not know each other before the standoff. Jones shot the homeowner execution style in the back of his head and then sent a spree of bullets toward the officers surrounding the residence.
Three officers were shot and suffered non life-threatening injuries including State Trooper Mark Fletcher, Kalamazoo Public Safety Officer Caleb Jones and Kalamazoo sheriff’s deputy Noah Susick.
On Wednesday, March 4th, Kalamazoo County District Judge Christopher Haenicke read to the court room the defendant’s psychological evaluation.
He ruled that based off of the findings Jones was both competent and in a good mental state to stand trial. Haenicke summarized the report, saying that Jones demonstrated a “good understanding of the nature of the proceeding,” showing his ability to grasp basic legal concepts.
Jones will be back in county district court for a conference on March 18th, followed by a preliminary hearing on March 25th.
