A man accused of killing six people in a series of shootings in Austin and San Antonio last December is not competent to stand trial, a Travis County judge ruled.

Shane James, 35, allegedly killed his parents in San Antonio on Dec. 5, then drove to Austin where he shot several people in a shooting spree across the city. Four people were killed in South Austin, including a mother protecting her child, a contractor renovating a home, and a mother and daughter whose home James allegedly burglarized in Circle C. Two police officers and a bicyclist were also killed in South Austin. wounded.

James tried to escape from police custody after his arrest.

Travis County Prosecutor Jose Garza charged him with four counts of capital murder. He faces another capital murder charge in Bexar County.

James, who served in the army for two years, has a story mental health problems and criminal history. He was arrested for assaulting family members in 2022 and was involuntarily detained in Austin in 2018 after telling police he was considering suicide. Police were called to the family’s Bexar County home in August 2023 after he suffered a mental health crisis.

After a mental health evaluation, Travis County Judge Cliff Brown ruled last week that James could not stand trial, court records show. He was involuntarily committed to a public establishment, according to State Lawand all proceedings are stayed until he is found mentally competent to stand trial.

KUT has reached out to the Travis County Prosecutor’s Office for next steps, but has not yet received a response.