AUSTIN, Texas – Shane James Jr., who is accused of a deadly rampage in San Antonio and Austin in late 2023, was found competent to stand trial on Wednesday.
Travis County Judge Leon Grizzard stated that James’ case was sent back to the 147th Criminal District Court, according to his defense attorney, Russell Hunt Jr.
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James was previously found incompetent to stand trial. In August 2024, he requested to represent himself, contrary to his attorney’s advice.
According to Hunt, the sanity evaluation cannot begin until an individual is found competent to stand trial. Now that James has been declared competent, experts can proceed with that assessment.
In December 2023, Bexar County sheriff’s deputies said James killed his parents in Kirby and then traveled to Austin, where he allegedly killed four people and injured two police officers and a cyclist.
Travis County jail records show that James faces at least 11 charges:
Three counts of capital murder of multiple persons
One count of capital murder by terror threat
Two counts of attempted capital murder
One count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
Andrea K. Moreno is a Digital Journalist at KSAT. She graduated from Texas State University with an electronic media degree and a minor in psychology. She also attended San Antonio College, where she held several positions at The Ranger, now known as The Sundial, for three years.
Spencer Heath is a Digital Journalist at KSAT. Spencer graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied Radio-Television-Film. He’s worked as a journalist in San Antonio since June of 2022.
Outside the newsroom, he enjoys watching movies and spending time with family.