Isiah Trotman, 31, was transferred from a Washington, D.C. prison to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital to be evaluated for possible mental health issues after being arrested in connection with the February 1 shooting. is ready. Prosecutors allege Trotman shot three people and killed 64-year-old Robert Cunningham during an indiscriminate attack on commuters.
Lauren Price, who works at the DC Behavioral Health Department, described the series of tests in April, and when Trotman was actually fine enough to understand the legal proceedings in his case, Trotman said: believed he was “exploiting” his mental illness, prosecutors said in a report.
Citing Price’s report, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jackson said at a hearing on Friday that Trotman was “faking a disability” and displayed “symptoms that were either intentional or grossly exaggerated.” asked Judge Maribeth Rafinan to order Trotman sent back to a Washington, D.C. prison, claiming that Trotman was “trying to avoid criminal prosecution” in hopes of remaining in St. Elizabeth’s.
“If he exaggerates his symptoms, he should not be rewarded for being allowed to stay at St. Elizabeth’s,” the prosecutor argued.
Trotman’s public defense team countered that they wanted one of the experts to evaluate and comment on Trotman, and asked the judge to keep him in the hospital until the examination was completed. They said that at the first screening, which took place in March, DC psychologist Teresa Grant found Trotman to be incapable of understanding procedures, and showed signs of schizophrenia and psychosis, with “auditory hallucinations and suicidal ideation.” He claimed to have discovered that
A judge ordered Trotman to remain in the hospital temporarily while he undergoes further examinations, and scheduled a follow-up hearing on April 27.
Police claim the Trotman went berserk after 9 a.m. while boarding a Metrobus to the Potomac Avenue station. Police said he ran after his passenger and shot him in the leg, driving him down an escalator. Trotman shot another man in the leg near a ticket gate and pointed the gun at the woman, police said.
Cunningham intervened and tried to remove the gun before Trotman was shot, officials said. Police said Trotman stepped on Mr. Cunningham’s chest three times before shouting, “I’m a killer. This is my job.”
