A doctor has completed an initial competency evaluation on the man accused of killing two people and injuring four others in a February mass shooting at a New Albany cosmetics production facility.
Bruce Foster III appeared in Licking County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday for a competency hearing to determine if he should stand trial.
The evaluation found Foster should be hospitalized and treated before proceedings against him move forward, according to Foster's defense attorney Brandon Shroy.
Before making a decision, the judge has agreed to prosecutors' requests to pursue an opinion from a second doctor.
Shroy said Foster's mental state is likely to be a big part of the case. He said the first report found he needs to receive treatment before he can assist in his own defense.
Shroy also said it's not uncommon for multiple doctors to evaluate someone in a case like this. He said he can't say more about what type of treatment Foster needs.
Foster is expected in court again after a second evaluation is completed sometime in the next month. A judge will then decide whether or not to hospitalize Foster before he stands trial.
"If the judge were to decide that at this point he's not competent, the law allows up to one year for that status to change," Shroy said.
After Wednesday's hearing, Foster turned to the audience and said, "I'm innocent."
At an earlier hearing, Foster said he didn't resist arrest.
Foster's bond is $20 million. He's being held at the Licking County Jail, where he is not receiving mental health treatment, according to Shroy.
Coroners have identified the victims killed in the Feb. 4 shooting as 30-year-old Shakhar Chapagai and 38-year-old Kyle Vaver, who were both KDC/ONE employees.
Foster also worked at KDC/ONE, but police have not said what the exact motive was for the shooting. Witnesses told police Foster was acting "weird" before the shooting.
Authorities have said the shooting appears to have been a targeted attack.
