Mental review sought for hospital shooting suspect

CINCINNATI (AP) — A lawyer for an Ohio man charged in a Veterans Affairs hospital shooting that wounded one man wants a mental competency evaluation of his client.

Defense attorney Frank Malocu did not enter a plea at Neil Moore’s arraignment today in U.S. District Court in Dayton. But the judge entered a standard not guilty plea for Moore while the case proceeds, Malocu said.

Malocu said he was filing motions seeking the evaluation and prosecution documents.

“I feel strongly that his mental state now and at the time of the occurrence is a significant issue in the case,” Malocu said.

The attorney would not elaborate, but said Moore has suffered mental illness most of his life.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwight Keller had no comment on the defense request.

Moore, 59, of Trotwood, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and use of a deadly weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

Investigators say the former employee of the Dayton VA hospital entered a break room May 5 where several people were playing cards and pointed a revolver at them, saying something like “don’t mess with my family.” Authorities say that in a scuffle, an employee was shot in the ankle. They say Moore then pointed the revolver at someone at an elevator before fleeing.