[PRINT] Second competency evaluation of alleged El Paso County courthouse shooter requested (copy)
The man accused of shooting and killing a man outside the El Paso County courthouse had a competency evaluation completed, seemingly finding him incompetent to proceed.
Shaquille Brown, 29, was arrested outside the courthouse, where he allegedly shot and killed 28-year-old William Winters on Nov. 16.
In an arrest affidavit obtained by The Gazette, Brown was identified by building video surveillance and by eyewitnesses as the shooter. Brown told police that he shot and killed Winters. He told investigators he had felt threatened by Winters since earlier in 2023 when Winters allegedly assaulted Brown at a bar in downtown Colorado Springs, causing injuries that he said required surgery.
Following his arrest, Brown’s attorney, Michael Stuzynski, requested for a competency evaluation to be conducted on his client.
On Monday afternoon Judge Jill Brady announced that the competency evaluation, conducted by the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo (CMHIP), was complete.
The findings of the evaluation weren’t read to the court, but prosecutor Sharon Flaherty stated that she would be “contesting the findings” from CMHIP, and requesting a second evaluation to be conducted on Brown.
Stuzynski objected to a second competency evaluation, stating that his client would be unable to begin getting restoration services until the court makes a clear determination on Brown’s competency, which would be delayed by a second evaluation.
Judge Jill Brady informed Stuzynski that she understood his concerns — and that she didn’t know if she had ever encountered a situation where the prosecution was the party responsible for requesting a second competency evaluation — but that the prosecution was legally entitled to request a second evaluation.
The second evaluation will be conducted by an independent forensic psychologist unassociated with CMHIP, according to Flaherty.
Brown will return to court on April 15 for a review hearing. He remains in custody at the El Paso County jail on a $1 million bond.
Shaquille Brown, 29.
