As evaluators go through the two-part process of a competency hearing, more of the history of alleged University of Colorado Colorado Springs shooter Nicholas Jordan came to light Friday in court.

Jordan, 25, was present in court Friday for the first part of his hearing to determine whether he is competent to stand trial. While no decision was made, new information on Jordan’s childhood and mental health history was revealed.

Jordan is accused of shooting and killing Celie Rain Montgomery, 26, of Pueblo, and Samuel Knopp, 24, of Parker, in the early morning hours of Feb. 16 in the dorms on the UCCS campus.

In April, Judge David Shakes announced that the first competency evaluation, performed by the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo, found Jordan incompetent to proceed. The prosecution then requested a second evaluation by an expert unaffiliated with CMHIP. The second evaluation found Jordan competent, leading to a competency hearing.

On Friday in court, prosecutors called Dr. Patricia West Moreland, a forensic psychiatrist, to the stand immediately after opening remarks by Shakes. Moreland performed the evaluation on April 30 that found Jordan competent.

Moreland testified that Jordan said to her during the two-hour evaluation that he may have exaggerated with the doctor in the first evaluation. Moreland said that Jordan told her other inmates encouraged him to lie so he could be transferred to a state hospital, where he could receive better food, and that he regretted going down this path.

Moreland testified that throughout her evaluation, Jordan denied having depression or suicidal thoughts. He did have some symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder related to childhood trauma, but not physical or sexual trauma, Moreland said.

She also testified that Jordan told her about marijuana use that ebbed and flowed over the years, but that he denied the use of other drugs.

Moreland described Jordan as attentive, happy to engage in conversation, cooperative, well-mannered and intelligent. She said she did not see any symptoms of psychosis, such as responding to internal stimuli or any anxious or agitated presentation.

It was revealed on Friday that in 2021, Jordan went to the StoneCrest Center for a seven-day stay for concern regarding psychotic symptoms. While in the center’s care, Jordan was on anti-psychotic medication but did not continue them after leaving. Aside from this visit, Jordan has not received any treatment for his mental health.

Moreland noted that Jordan’s marijuana use was not taken into account during this stay, which she believes played a part in his diagnosis and care.

Moreland diagnosed Jordan with substance-induced psychosis disorder at the end of the April 30 evaluation, which is different than his previous diagnosis of bipolar 1 with psychotic features, but that she believed he was competent to stand trial.

The defense counsel continued digging into Moreland’s evaluation, asking detailed questions about how bipolar disorder presents. Defense attorneys argued that in the evaluation, Jordan showed signs of paranoia, a symptom of both bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder.

The first evaluation found that Jordan was having hallucinations and possessed several symptoms of psychosis including pressured speech, irritability and a lack of focus. Defense attorneys argued that with disorders such as bipolar, symptoms come in “episodes,” and the individual may have periods of stability.

His lawyers brought up several aspects from his childhood and college life. Jordan grew up in poverty and has trauma related to those circumstances. At one point, it was brought up in court how a friend used to light Jordan on fire.

Jordan attended three different colleges in three states over seven years. Aside from UCCS, Jordan also attended Grambling State University in Louisiana. While defense lawyers argued moving so often was a sign of instability, Moreland said it was not.

Defense also brought up the unsolved murder of Jordan’s brother in Michigan, which occurred a year before the UCCS shootings.

Toward the end of the hearing, defense lawyers argued against the idea that Jordan exaggerated his symptoms for personal gain. His attorney claimed he now could be “faking wellness” to avoid the long waiting list for those in custody requiring mental health resources, getting to go to trial faster.

The evaluation done by Moreland reports that Jordan knows more about his case now, and believes he can prove his innocence. Defense lawyers asked Moreland whether Jordan could be lying to be found competent so he could get to trial more quickly. Moreland responded that it is not likely and would be hard to achieve.

Jordan’s competency hearing will continue Aug. 2, when Shakes will hear from the first evaluator. The hope is that a decision will be made to determine if Jordan will move forward to a trial or be ruled incompetent. If Shakes finds Jordan incompetent, the case will be stalled indefinitely until Jordan is restored to competency through mental health services.