COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The man accused of killing two people at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) has been found mentally incompetent to stand trial.
The results of Nicholas Jordan's competency evaluation were revealed during a court hearing Friday morning. The competency evaluation was conducted by a psychologist with the State Mental Health Hospital after a judge granted the defense's motion for the evaluation last month.
During Friday's court hearing Judge David Shakes granted the prosecution's request for a second competency evaluation with a doctor of the attorney's choice.
The defense argued that according to state statute, the prosecution should not be allowed to choose their own doctor for the second evaluation. However, the judge said it would not make sense for a different doctor at the State Mental Health Hospital to conduct another evaluation.
Jordan's attorney also requested the suspect be able to appear in civilian clothes instead of an orange jumpsuit for all pre-trial hearings. The judge denied that request, citing safety concerns for the El Paso County Sheriff's Office deputies who would be tasked with monitoring Jordan while he changes clothes.
Austin Lux, a criminal defense attorney in Colorado Springs, said the results of the second evaluation do not automatically trump the first evaluation. He said if the opinions from the two doctors differ, Jordan's attorney will have to show proof that the suspect is incompetent. Lux said the judge will then make the final decision.
“The judge has to make some credibility determinations based on those results, decide what the best science is based on those evaluations and go from there," said Lux.
Jordan is expected back in court on May 31 at 11 a.m. for a review hearing on the status of the second competency evaluation.
Jordan is accused of killing his roommate, 24-year-old Samuel Knopp, and 26-year-old Celie Montgomery, who was not a student, in a UCCS dorm room on February 16, 2024.
WATCH: Accused UCCS shooter to undergo competency evaluation
If Jordan is ultimately found to be incompetent, he will have to be restored to competency, which may include mental health treatment and medication at the State Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo. Colorado's Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health (OCFMH), which oversees operations at the state's two mental health hospitals, said there is a backlog in patients needing restoration treatment.
A spokesperson for OCFMH said as of Friday there are 330 people waiting for inpatient competency restoration treatment and the average wait for admission is 94 days.
BACKGROUND
Colorado Springs Police arrested Jordan on Monday, Feb. 19, three days after he allegedly shot and killed Knopp and Montgomery inside their shared dorm room. Police said officers found the suspect in a vehicle with a handgun and a loaded AK-47 about three miles west of campus.
WATCH: Affidavit: UCCS shooting suspect threatened to kill roommate over taking out trash
The two victims were found dead with at least one gunshot wound each just after 6 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 16 by UCCS Campus Police. Knopp was identified as Jordan's roommate and arrest papers said the two had a previous argument, in which Jordan allegedly threatened to kill Knopp over taking out the trash.
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