NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A man is undergoing a mental evaluation Friday after he became the primary suspect in shooting a man in the Edgehill neighborhood around midnight.
Police said surveillance video shows Ronald Lamont Russell Jr., 34, shooting the victim, James B. Cox III, 41.
Authorities said Russell shot Cox multiple times, including after Cox was on the ground. Cox was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he died. Russell was brought to Vanderbilt by his mother for treatment of a minor head injury. While being assessed, police said he was overheard talking about being in a shootout.
That's when Russell's mother told police her son suffers from schizophrenia.
Why did the shooting happen?
According to police, Russell told his mother and detectives that he shot Cox because he believed Cox had cut off his sister’s leg.
His sister did lose her leg due to medical complications, but it had nothing to do with Cox.
While at the hospital, Russell told police he saw Cox outside of her apartment. That's when he said tried to stab Cox in the neck. When that didn't work, Russell grabbed for Cox's gun.
Police said he then wrestled the victim to the ground and shot him. Russell suffered a graze wound during the altercation.
Russell is undergoing a psychological evaluation. He will be booked on murder charges when he is released from the hospital.
Russell's history with mental illness
In 2019, Russell was charged with vandalism and aggravated assault in connection to a domestic violence case. But the case was closed and the charges were dropped.
Court documents showed he assaulted his girlfriend as she was sitting in her SUV. She was in the front driver seat and Russell began to throw concrete through all of the windows, according to court documents. The concrete "slabs" broke the windows and caused the glass to break and glass shards got into her eyes.
Judge Allegra Walker ordered a mental evaluation on Russell. A doctor at Vanderbilt recommended Russell receive an inpatient evaluation at Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute. Judge Walker ordered Russell to be admitted for evaluation at the Regional Mental Health Institute.
It appears Russell was found not competent to stand trial. At the time, anyone found not competent was often sent home and never got the treatment they needed.
Russell was arrested again in 2022. This time he was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He served two years in jail.
He was released back in April.
Mental competency and Jillian's Law
In this particular case, there's an outstanding warrant for murder.
"Once this individual gets out of the hospital, he'll be booked on that warrant and get with lawyers in jail," said Nick Leonardo, NewChannel 5 legal analyst. "They'll determine if they need a separate competency evaluation if he potentially needs to be in the Sheriff's Department BCC or Behavioral Care Center. And so they'll make those evaluations at that time once he comes into custody and if he bonds out, or is able to bond out. But competency is always in play, and for some people, it is a moving target and it can improve with training."
Since his competency is in question, Jillian's Law could come into play. However, that doesn't take place until the court proceedings.
Per the new law, those found unfit would have to receive inpatient or outpatient treatment. The court would have to keep up with their progress. That person would also never be allowed to own a firearm again. If that person were able to regain competency, their criminal proceedings would restart, meaning they could face charges.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at emily.west@newschannel5.com.
Fostering Hope provides Christmas for kids in foster care. I'm delighted to see Fostering Hope expand this year to expand their reach to now include kids in Foster care in metro AND foster kids in East TN hard hit by Helene.
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