On May 18 2018, Dimitrios Pagourtzis who was 17 at the time, burst into a classroom at the Santa Fe high school and opened fire on students and staff with a 38 caliber shotgun killing 10 people and injuring 13.
His murder trial has however been delayed while he receives mental health treatment after he was found incompetent to stand trial.
Three experts – one for the defense, one appointed by the court and one picked by prosecutors – found Dimitrios Pagourtzis incompetent to stand trial.
Nick Poehl, one of Pagourtzis’ attorneys said the accused cannot understand the charges against him or assist in his defense.
Pagourtzis who is now 19, is charged with capital murder for the May 18, 2018, attack at Santa Fe High School.
His trial was set to start February 18, however, the case was put on hold so that he could undergo a psychiatric evaluation. As Pagourtzis was 17 at the time of the attack, he cannot be sentenced under the death penalty.
He will now be transferred from the Galveston County Jail to a state mental health facility, where he will remain for four to six months to receive treatment. After that, he will be re-evaluated to determine whether he is competent for trial.
