Man found mentally incompetent to stand trial for fatal shooting in Covina

A man has been declared mentally incompetent to stand trial on murder and other counts for allegedly gunning down one man in a group of people trying to detain him after a vehicle burglary and attempted carjacking in Covina.

Criminal proceedings had been suspended March 1 against Trevor Howard Thompson, now 35, after a doubt was declared about his competency.

The Glendora man was charged last year for a Dec. 21 shooting that killed Joey Manuel Casias, a father of three and a 19-year UPS employee.

Thompson was confronted by a group of people in a Covina neighborhood for allegedly breaking into a parked BMW, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Thompson then allegedly attempted to carjack one of the residents’ vehicles and then attacked another man.

Casias, 38, of Covina, intervened to try to stop the attack when Thompson shot at the man he was struggling with and fatally shot Casias with a Colt-45 handgun, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Thompson was arrested the next day after an hours-long standoff with police. He was charged Dec. 27 with one felony count each of murder, attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, attempted carjacking, second-degree burglary of a vehicle, resisting an executive officer, vandalism and possession of a firearm by a felon.

“This is an especially heartbreaking incident since Mr. Casias was simply acting as a good Samaritan,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement announcing the charges. “As we seek to ensure accountability, we also will make every possible service available to the victims and their families.”

A GoFundMe account established to help Casias’ family has raised more than $140,000.

It was not immediately clear where Thompson would be placed. Another mental competency status conference is scheduled in a year.

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