DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz ordered a second full mental competency exam on Sept. 26 for a murder defendant requesting to represent himself in trial.
Marcus Barringer, 34, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, two counts of obstruction of justice, three counts of possessing a firearm during crime of violence, and six counts of possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device.
These charges are in connection to his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Rashad Davis that occurred May 6, 2022 on the 2300 block of Nicholson Street, NE.
On Sept. 11, Judge Kravtiz deemed that Barringer was mentally competent to stand trial after receiving a report from the DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH). The report stated that after receiving mandated medication to moderate dangerousness, Barringer was competent to stand trial, and suggested that Barringer continue to be held at Saint Elizabeths Hospital for psychiatric patients.
However, on Sept. 26, the prosecution told Judge Kravitz that following the Sept. 11 hearing, they had received another report from an independent expert at the hospital that believed that although Barringer’s state had improved, he was still not competent enough to stand trial.
The prosecution also told Judge Kravitz that Barringer also wished to represent himself in trial. A previous ruling on Oct. 24, 2024 by DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun ruled that Barringer was incompetent to do so.
Lisbeth Sapirstein, Barringer’s attorney, affirmed that Barringer still wanted to represent himself with his defense counsel on stand-by.
Judge Kravitz ordered another competency exam from DBH to evaluate Barringer’s competency to waive his rights to counsel. Barringer’s trial date is set for Feb. 1, 2027.
Parties are slated to discuss the findings from the latest mental competency exam on Nov. 11.
