All parties agreed that a homicide defendant is mentally competent to stand trial after reviewing a report from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on July 17.
Isaiah Trotman, 35, is charged with first-degree murder while armed with aggravated circumstances, 13 counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, 13 counts of kidnapping while armed, and 27 counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
These charges are related to Trotman’s alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 64-year-old Robert Cunningham outside of the Potomac Avenue Metro Station, located on the 1400 block of Potomac Avenue, SE, on Feb. 1, 2023. Two additional victims sustained gunshot wounds.
At a hearing on April 3, Judge Ryan ordered a full mental competency examination for Trotman. To stand trial, Trotman must understand the charges against him and be able to assist in his defense.
At the hearing, Trotman’s attorney, Ashley Prather Guzman, said Trotman was found competent in an April 27 DBH report that was filed on May 1. Although the defense expressed disapproval in DBH’s methods used to conduct the report, they did not dispute its result. The prosecution agreed with the findings, and Judge Ryan found Trotman competent to proceed to trial.
Judge Ryan set Trotman’s trial date for Jan. 24, 2028, estimating it will last three-to-four weeks.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Oct. 14.
