AUSTIN, Texas — A Travis County jury found Shane James competent to stand trial Monday in connection with a December 2023 shooting spree across Austin and San Antonio that left six people dead and three others injured.
The ruling clears the way for James’ capital murder trial to move forward, with jury selection scheduled to begin Tuesday at 9 a.m. and the trial set to begin Thursday.
James appeared in a Travis County courtroom Monday as his defense attorneys argued that symptoms of schizophrenia interfere with his ability to participate in his defense.
Under Texas law, a defendant may be found incompetent to stand trial if they lack the ability to sufficiently consult with their attorney or do not have a rational and factual understanding of the proceedings against them.
Two forensic psychologists testified Monday that James experiences symptoms of schizophrenia, including auditory hallucinations and delusions.
Mollimichelle McClendon, a psychologist called by the defense, testified that James recently described hearing voices telling him they “hated him” and expressed delusions involving “laser masters.”
McClendon said James understands the charges against him and the potential punishments he faces but raised concerns about his delayed thinking and impaired judgment.
The state’s forensic psychologist, Kimberly Harrison, testified that James’ hallucinations are manageable and have improved over time.
After a brief deliberation, the 12-member jury determined there was insufficient evidence to find James incompetent to stand trial.
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Previous competency rulings
Monday’s decision marks another development in a case that has faced delays over questions about James’ mental competency.
According to previous CBS Austin reporting, a judge found James incompetent to stand trial in November 2024 and ordered him to undergo treatment.
In July 2025, a judge ruled James competent to stand trial. However, his mental competency was raised again ahead of this week’s proceedings.
Court filings in September also indicated that James’ attorneys planned to argue he was legally insane at the time of the shootings.
Competency to stand trial and an insanity defense are separate legal issues. Competency addresses whether a defendant can understand court proceedings and assist in their defense, while an insanity defense concerns their legal responsibility at the time of the alleged crimes.
What happened during the December 2023 shootings?
James faces multiple charges, including capital murder and aggravated assault, stemming from a series of shootings on Dec. 4 and 5, 2023.
Investigators believe the violence began in the San Antonio area, where James allegedly killed his parents before traveling to Austin.
On the morning of Dec. 5, an Austin ISD police officer was shot near Northeast Early College High School.
Around noon, two people were fatally shot on Shadywood Drive in South Austin.
Later that afternoon, a cyclist was shot and injured near West Slaughter Lane.
That evening, police responding to a reported burglary at a home on Austral Loop in Southwest Austin encountered a gunman who opened fire, injuring an Austin police officer. Two women were later found dead inside the home.
Authorities arrested James following a police pursuit that ended in a crash.
In total, six people were killed, and three others were injured, including two law enforcement officers.
James’ trial is scheduled to begin Thursday, Oct. 29.