AUSTIN, Texas — A former Army officer charged with the shooting deaths of six people, including his parents, has been deemed mentally competent to stand trial for the killings, according to the Travis County District Attorney’s Office. Shane M. James Jr., 36, is accused of killing his parents in San Antonio sometime between Dec. 4 and Dec. 5, 2023, and then driving north to Austin, where police said he killed four more people and shot and injured two police officers and a cyclist in separate incidents across the city.
Judge Cliff Brown determined in October that James was not competent to participate in his court proceedings and ordered him to a state mental health facility until his capacity improved.
The judge decided July 9 that his murder case can start again. New hearings have not yet been scheduled, according to the county’s online court docket. Prosecutors look forward to continuing to fight for justice for the victims and their families, according to a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office. An attorney for James was not immediately available Wednesday for comment.