A man charged with killing a Massachusetts police officer and an innocent bystander has been sent to a psychiatric facility for a 20-day evaluation to determine whether he is competent to stand trial.
The Patriot Ledger reports that a judge Wednesday approved a defense request to send 21-year-old Emmanuel Lopes to Bridgewater State Hospital. He was being held at the Norfolk County jail.
Lopes is due back in court Dec. 11 with the results of the evaluation.
Lopes' attorney, Larry Tipton, says his client has a history of mental illness.
Lopes faces 11 charges, including two counts of murder, in the July deaths of Weymouth police Sgt. Michael Chesna and 77-year-old Vera Adams.
Authorities say Chesna was investigating a car crash when Lopes disabled him with a rock and took his weapon.
