Judge Rules Accused 2023 Shooter Competent for Trial

Shanes James, the man charged with killing six people in a 2023 shooting rampage that began in Bexar County and ended in Austin, has officially been deemed competent to stand trial.

A Travis County judge on Wednesday ruled the 36-year-old was fit and ordered his criminal cases to proceed. A trial date has not been set.

The judge’s decision was based on an evaluation report received from a state mental health hospital, according to the Travis County District Attorney's office. James' attorney, Russ Hunt Jr., revealed the conclusion of that evaluation last week.

James was ruled incompetent to stand trial in October 2024 and sent to an institution for rehabilitation and evaluation in early April. Under Texas law, a criminal defendant cannot be tried if they lack the capacity to understand the proceedings against them, to consult with counsel or to assist in preparing a defense.

James stands accused of killing his parents — Phyllis James, 55, and Shane James Sr., 56 — at their eastern Bexar County home on Dec. 5, 2023, before driving to Austin, where he is suspected of shooting and killing four more people and injuring three, including two police officers. The four people killed in Austin were Emmanuel Pop Ba, 33; Sabrina Rahman, 25; Katherine Short, 56 and 30-year-old Lauren Short.

The charges against James include three counts of capital murder of multiple persons, one count of capital murder, two counts of attempted capital murder and one count of capital murder by terror threat. He is also charged with three undetermined misdemeanors and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.