A judge found that the suspect charged with killing an Uber driver in January is not capable of proceeding to trial.
In January, 57-year-old Emmanuel Gbedee was found shot and dead in the backseat of his own car on Holly Grove Road in Benson. He was driving for Uber when he picked up then-18-year-old Tray'vian Brown, who is charged with his murder. He turned 19 in April.
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The medical examiner’s summary said that when Gbedee stopped for a pickup, Brown shot him and placed him in the backseat of his car. Brown reportedly drove one mile away from where he shot Gbedee and parked the car next to a private building.
The North Carolina Highway Patrol and local sheriff’s office received multiple tips about a suspicious person on camera on the side of the building. When officials arrived, they found a 9mm cartridge casing and Gbedee in the backseat.
The medical examiner’s summary did not find evidence of alcohol or drug paraphernalia in the car.
During his court appearance on Friday, Sept. 5, Brown was deemed incapable of proceeding to trial.
The motion approved by the judge said that Brown was “virtually nonverbal.” It appeared he did not understand the current circumstances in which he found himself in, and refused to eat, which resulted in his transfer to Central Prison for his own welfare.
Based on personal information and histories provided by his family, the judge determined that Brown may have various mental health impairments that impact his capacity to proceed at trial.
The judge also had Brown committed to Cherry Hospital, a psychiatric facility in Goldsboro, for capacity restoration, according to an official with the Johnston County District Attorney’s Office.
He said once Brown is “restored,” the DA's office will continue their prosecution into his first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon charges.
Brown is scheduled to be back in court for a status update on December 19.