DINWIDDIE, Va. -- A suspect facing capital murder charges in the death of Virginia State Police Master Trooper Junius A. Walker will be treated at Central State Hospital, a court hearing determined Friday.
"The doctor determined at the current time he is incompetent," Commonwealth's Attorney Lisa Caruso said.
Russell E. Brown, of North Chesterfield, will be treated at Central State Hospital in a bid to restore his competence to stand trial in the trooper's death, which rocked the community in March 2013.
"It's in the hands of the doctors," Caruso added.
Brown is set to appear in court on June 17, but that date is subject to change depending on his treatment.
Walker, 63, stopped to check on a sedan on the shoulder of Interstate 85. Corinne Geller, Virginia State Police spokeswoman, said that Brown open fired on Walker before fleeing the scene. He was located hiding in a car at a nearby towing business.
He has been held at Meherrin River Regional Jail in Alberta.
Walker, who served nearly 40 years with the Virginia State Police, has been remembered as a "gentle giant" through a public vigil, a funeral that drew 3,000 mourners from across the country and the naming of a portion of I-85 in his honor.
Court records indicate Brown is charged with one count of capital murder of a police officer, attempted murder of a police officer, attempted murder, three counts of using a firearm in the commission of the felony and two counts of malicious shooting into an occupied vehicle.
Copyright 2014 - The Progress-Index, Petersburg, Va.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
