This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Mental health evaluations of a Salt Lake City man who is charged in the shooting deaths of three people, including an infant, show he is not competent to proceed to trial, according to attorneys in the case.
At a hearing Monday in 3rd District Court, defense attorney Heidi Buchi said two doctors who have examined Alexander Hung Tran agree he is currently not mentally competent.
Judge Elizabeth Hruby-Mills scheduled another competency review hearing for Feb. 27. In the meantime, Utah State Hospital personnel will conduct an evaluation and write a report on whether Tran's mental competency could be restored.
Tran, 33, is charged with three counts of aggravated murder and faces the possibility of the death penalty. He is accused of fatally shooting 50-year-old Heike Poike, her 2-month-old granddaughter Lyrik Poike; and 28-year-old Dakota Smith.
The three victims, who were tenants at Tran's home on the 600 North block of Sir Philip Drive (1990 West), were found dead inside on Sept. 18, 2015. Police came to the house on a welfare check after Heike Poike did not arrive to pick up her grandson from school that day.
An officer saw a body under a tarp through the living room window, according to charging documents. Officers entered through an open back door, located Tran in the basement and arrested him.
After his arrest, Tran allegedly admitted he killed the three victims, but he tried to say his mother was at fault because she owns the house and had asked for the tenants to leave.
"If I think this is my mom's fault and that she should be here instead, is there anything I can do?" he allegedly said.
Prosecutors say Tran's mother knew nothing about the slayings until later.
A search warrant issued in the case says Tran was diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic after being admitted to the University Neuropsychiatric Institute a few months before the shootings. His attorneys have raised concerns that he might have "limited mental functioning."
Twitter: @PamelaMansonSLC