The man accused of the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, has been ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial by Texas doctors for the fifth time, further delaying his capital murder trial. According to court records cited by the Houston Chronicle, the 23-year-old has been ordered to receive another year of mental health treatment.
Galveston County District Attorney Jack Roady expressed his frustration, stating, "This is, again, extremely disappointing and frustrating news." Roady's comments, obtained by Houston Public Media, convey the sentiment that despite the delays, efforts to restore Pagourtzis to competency continue.
Initially arrested following the shooting on May 18, 2018, which resulted in ten deaths and 13 injuries, Pagourtzis faces charges of capital murder and aggravated assault against a public servant. Held at a North Texas prison hospital since 2019, he was found unable to assist in his own defense, hence the ongoing treatment and trial postponements.
His defense attorney, Nicholas Poehl, told the Houston Chronicle that although the repeated delays are disappointing, they are not surprising. "It grows ever more difficult to see a path forward when the prospects for restoration steadily diminish the longer he remains incompetent," Poehl said.
Judge Lonnie Cox's recent ruling recommitting Pagourtzis noted that he is "suffering severe and abnormal mental, emotional, or physical distress," as reported by Houston Public Media. Additionally, he is "likely to cause serious harm to others" and cannot make a rational decision about his treatment.
A hearing is expected to be scheduled within the next month to discuss Pagourtzis' treatment and progress. During the hearing, doctors from North Texas State Hospital are likely to testify, possibly shedding light on the status of his mental health and capability to stand trial. "This office will stay in communication with the victims and their families as further details develop," Roady said, underscoring the commitment to those affected by the tragedy.
