Judge determines Major Davis ‘not competent’ to stand trial for murder of IMPD officer
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Accused cop killer Major Davis Jr. wrote a Marion County Judge a letter earlier this summer entitled “The Battle Between Good and Evil.”
It’s hard to decipher.
In it, Davis Jr. often quotes the Bible, talks about Jesus and trimming lamps. He ends it by saying “let us rise up and use the weapons God has given us.”
Since his arrest following the July 2014 shooting death of IMPD Officer Perry Renn, Davis Jr. has fought to represent himself, claiming that he has been denied a speedy trial, that at least one of his attorneys made an aggressive move towards him, and that he has been kept from reviewing key evidence in the case against him.
Davis Jr. is accused of fatally shooting Officer Perry Renn as police were responding to a disturbance call at 34th Street and Forest Manor Avenue.
As Davis Jr. has continued to fight to represent himself, his attorneys told the judge that Davis suffers from “paranoia and delusions.”
On Friday, the judge determined that Davis was not competent to stand trial at this time. As a result, Davis will be transferred to the state-run facility where he will undergo psychiatric treatment in an effort to determine if his current mental state can be improved to such a degree that he can be found competent to stand trial.
IMPD Police Chief Troy Riggs, speaking at the department’s North District Headquarters Friday on two unrelated shootings targeting police district buildings, said that his department was “disappointed” but appreciative of the efforts of the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.
Riggs remarks were preceded by a long pause. Officer Renn had worked out of the north district while on the force.
“Coming to roll call today…. this is the roll call that Perry Renn’s death hits home. And we had that conversation. And I am pleased that the prosecutor’s office has reached out to us and said even though this individual was found not competent now, that they are going to continue to monitor this case,” Riggs said.
The judge’s order states that Davis will be re-evaluated after a 90-day period, and if still found to be incompetent, another evaluation will be conducted in 180 days.
Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry indicated his office has no plans to drop the case and as long as charges are pending, Davis Jr. will be able to receive the treatment he needs towards attaining competency.
Rick Snyder, who represents the local FOP chapter, released this statement:
“Today we learned of a ruling involving the ongoing prosecution related to the murder of IMPD Officer Perry Renn. Although frustrating, we respect the criminal justice process and appreciate the continued efforts of the Marion County Prosecutors Office. We recognize this is just another step in the process of ensuring justice for Officer Renn, his wife and our law enforcement family. In the interim, our police officers maintain their resolve to serve our community while honoring the sacrifice of Officer Renn and all our sisters and brothers who have laid down their lives serving and protecting others. We ask our community to continue to pray for our police officers, their families and our City.”
Davis faces the death penalty if convicted. The Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry said this case has two aggravating circumstances that support a death penalty case: that Davis killed Renn while Renn was on duty as a police officer, and that the murder was motivated by an act Renn performed while acting in the course of his duty as an officer.
In January, Davis filed a lawsuit that claimed IMPD officers used excessive force by shooting Davis in the back of the head, abdomen and back. A judge threw out the lawsuit in February.
Davis declined a reporter’s request to be interviewed for this story.
Public Defender Bob Hill told I-Team 8 that the reports by seven doctors was “overwhelming” that showed Davis was incompetent. He called the judge’s order “appropriate.”