Salishan mass shooting suspect’s state of mind questioned again. Here’s what’s next
A man charged with the shooting deaths of four people in Tacoma’s Salishan neighborhood in 2021 has been declared mentally incompetent to stand trial for the second time since his arrest and ordered to undergo inpatient treatment for 90 days.
Maleke Pate, 23, is accused of opening fire at the victims on Oct. 21, 2021, as they sat inside or stood near a vehicle outside a home in the 4200 block of East Everett Street. The mass shooting left grieving family members in shock. It took the lives of Maria Nunez, 42; her son, Emery Iese, 19: Nunez’s brother, Raymond Williams, 22; and Williams’ girlfriend, Natasha Brincefield, 22.
There’s been no indication thus far of a motive.
Pate previously was found incompetent to stand trial in May 2022 before his psychiatric condition improved enough to warrant being declared competent roughly three months later. On July 28 of this year, he was ordered to undergo another evaluation after the court determined there was reason again to doubt his state of mind, records show.
The latest mental health evaluation, dated Thursday, found Pate had disorganized thought processes, paranoid delusions and grossly impaired insight. He also reported hearing voices.
“Mr. Pate currently lacks the capacity to understand the nature of the proceedings against him and the capacity to assist in his own defense,” the report said.
On Friday, Pierce County Superior Court Judge Garold Johnson ordered Pate, who was not present during a brief hearing, to undergo more treatment in an effort to restore his competency.
Pate had been involuntarily committed to a behavioral health center several months before the quadruple homicide, court records show.
A hearing is next scheduled Nov. 7.
