James Davis Jr., 19, fatally shot his parents on March 12 as they helped him move out of his fourth-floor dorm. (Image courtesy of MLive)
The 19-year-old student accused of shooting and killing his parents at a Central Michigan University dormitory has been found incompetent to stand trial, his attorney said.
Court-appointed attorney Joshua Blanchard said suspect James Davis Jr. was found incompetent on March 23. Speaking to MLive, Blanchard said Davis will now receive treatment in an attempt to help him regain competency.
Authorities said Davis fatally shot his parents, James and Diva Davis of Plainsfield, Ill., in his dorm room on March 12 before fleeing campus. The 19-year-old was apprehended by police after an intense daylong manhunt that involved more than 100 officers. He’s since been charged with two counts of open murder in the deaths of his parents, and one count of felony firearm.
The night before the shootings, Davis reportedly told police he believed someone was out to kill him. Authorities said the young man was also exhibiting strange and erratic behavior, prompting his parents to submit him to the hospital for an evaluation. Police suspected the behavior was drug-induced.
Davis shot his parents dead later that day as they helped him move out of his fourth-floor dorm. Authorities said he used his father’s pistol to commit the murders.
Friends of the family described Diva Davis as a “wonderful mother” who worked as a flight attendant, and James Davis Sr. as a retired military member who served as a part-time police officer.
The motive behind the killings remains a mystery.
