Defense Attorney Files for Competency Evaluation for Client Accused of Shooting at Neighbor

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The attorney for a man diagnosed with autism charged in a 2022 attempted murder asked the court to order a competency evaluation for his client on April 17.

Defense attorney James Sweeting III addressed the court before Baltimore City Circuit Court before Judge Althea M. Handy, saying his client Daykai Quarles was having visions.

Quarles’ case is set to be heard again on May 8 in reception court following the results of the competency evaluation.

Quarles, 22, is charged with first and second-degree attempted murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, discharging a firearm, first and second-degree assault, and reckless endangerment in connection to an incident on Aug. 10, 2022.

The charges stem from a shooting on the 4400 block of Elderon Avenue when Quarles allegedly fired a gun from a second-story window and shot someone who had been arguing with his father, according to charging documents. The victim told officers with the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) that he ran to his house as the defendant continued to fire, but was not injured.

Quarles was arrested at the scene after the victim identified him as the shooter.

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