Man Charged In Fred Meyer Shooting Needs More Mental Health Treatment Before Standing For Trial

RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) – The gunman accused of shooting two men inside the Richland Fred Meyer store needs mental health treatment before he can be tried for murder.

Court proceedings against Aaron Christopher Kelly have been on hold since February 23 when a judge ordered him sent to Eastern State Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

Hospital evaluators said Kelly was not mentally competent to help his attorneys in his defense, his defense attorney Michael Vander Sys told Superior Court Judge David Petersen on Wednesday.

Petersen signed an order to keep Kelly at the hospital until he can help in his defense.

Defense attorneys and prosecutors are at odds about his medical treatment plan.