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By
Michelle Roldan
- March 11, 2025
Daily Stories
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Shooting
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Suspects
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During a mental observation hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe on March 7, a forensic psychologist testified that a shooting defendant is mentally competent, despite the defense presenting evidence of the defendant’s learning disability.
Kevin Harrison, 23, is charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, for his alleged involvement in a nonfatal shooting on June 26, 2023, on the 2100 block of Georgia Avenue, NW.
During the hearing, the prosecution questioned the forensic psychologist who conducted the competency report to testify.
After having spoken with Harrison’s defense attorney, Patrick Nowak, the psychologist testified she looked at screening measures and Harrison’s DC Education records, which helped her conclude that the defendant is competent and may be purposefully suppressing his legal knowledge of the case.
Throughout her interactions with Harrison, she claimed there were times the defendant seemed to know what his case consisted of, but then there would be other times he would respond to questions with “I don’t know” or be muffled.
She noted she understood that Harrison has a learning disability, but it’s minimal evidence of his incompetence as well as minimal relevance on whether or not he can proceed with his case.
According to the psychologist, Harrison’s learning disability doesn’t impede his verbal comprehension, meaning with a little help he would be able to communicate with his attorney and understand the details of his case.
Due to time constraints, the psychologist was unable to conclude her testimony.
Parties are slated to reconvene on March 19.