Competency Evaluation Ordered for Defendant With Head Trauma

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Baltimore City Circuit Judge Gale E. Rasin ordered a competency evaluation for an attempted murder defendant because he could not understand simpled explanations from his defense attorney about the proceedings.

Brian Strawder, 33, is charged with two counts each of attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, home invasion, conspiracy to commit home invasion, first-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary, three counts of reckless endangerment and single counts of firearm use in a felony violent crime, conspiracy to use a firearm in a felony violent crime, having a loaded handgun on his person, conspiracy to have a loaded handgun on his person, having a loaded handgun in a vehicle, conspiracy to have a loaded handgun in a vehicle, firing a gun in Baltimore City, firearm possession with a felony conviction, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and possession of firearms in a controlled dangerous substance offense for an Oct. 19, 2023, shooting.

Strawder’s attorney, Josh Insley, told the judge his client suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head, according to his family and multiple efforts to explain court procedures and his charges to Strawder failed.

The judge ordered a competency evaluation.

Strawder is scheduled to return to mental health court under Judge Rasin on Aug. 28.

According to previous coverage, Baltimore Police Department officers responded to the 800 block of North Eutaw Street, where they found a woman shot twice in her right thigh along with two other unharmed witnesses.

One of the witnesses told police that he met Strawder’s co-defendant, Kateira Womack, at a casino and invited her to his residence, where he lived with the victim. After she left, the witness turned around and saw two men coming at him from the kitchen. Strawder, Womack and a third co-defendant, Phillip McCoy, allegedly targeted the witness at the casino and planned an attack.