DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan ordered a mental competency screening on June 5 for a homicide defendant who already accepted a plea deal.
Jose Hernandez, 19, was previously charged with premeditated first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in two drive-by shootings in the Petworth neighborhood on April 29, 2025. Zephaniah Wright, 19, was fatally shot and a second victim injured outside of the Georgia Avenue-Petworth Metro Station on the 3700 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. Less than five minutes earlier, another individual was shot in front of the Petworth Recreation Center on the 800 block of Taylor Street, NW.
Hernandez accepted a plea deal on Jan. 8 that required him to plead guilty to second degree-murder while armed, aggravated assault while armed, and aggravated assault.
At Hernandez’s scheduled sentencing, his attorney, Mani Golzari, requested a mental competency screening. This screening will determine Hernandez’s ability to understand the charges against him, as well as his ability to help in his defense. Judge Ryan explained this to the defendant before ordering the evaluation.
Judge Ryan asked if Golzari was citing the 14th Amendment to support his request for a competency finding. Under that constitutional principle guaranteeing due process, a defendant can only enter a guilty plea if they are mentally competent to stand trial. If there is evidence Hernandez was incompetent when he pleaded guilty, the defense can file a motion to withdraw his plea.
Golzari then told the court he would wait for the screening results before presenting any further issues or arguments. Judge Ryan agreed that this was the best course of action.
Parties are set to reconvene to discuss the screening results on June 17.
