The suspect charged in shootings in San Antonio and Austin was declared unfit to stand trial

A Travis County judge has ruled that a man accused of murdering six people in a series of shootings in Austin and San Antonio last December cannot stand trial.

Shane James, 35, allegedly killed his parents in San Antonio on Dec. 5 and then drove to Austin, where he shot several people. Four people were killed in South Austin, including a mother protecting her child, a contractor remodeling a home and a mother and daughter whose home James allegedly broke into in Circle C. Two police officers and a cyclist were also injured.

James attempted to escape from custody after his arrest.

Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza charged him with four counts of murder. He faces additional murder charges in Bexar County.

James, who served in the army for two years, has a history of mental health issues and a criminal background. He was arrested in 2022 for assaulting family members and was involuntarily detained in Austin in 2018 after telling officers he was contemplating suicide. In August 2023, police were called to the family's Bexar County home after he had a mental health crisis.

After a mental health evaluation, Travis County Judge Cliff Brown ruled last week that James was ineligible to stand trial, according to court records. Under state law, he has been involuntarily committed to a state facility and all proceedings are stayed until he is found mentally competent to stand trial.

The Travis County District Attorney's Office did not respond to KUT's request for comment on next steps.

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