photo by: Kansas Department of Corrections

Shane Jamarr White in 2006.

Updated at 4 p.m. Wednesday

A Lawrence man facing a charge of attempted murder was found unfit to stand trial on Wednesday in Douglas County District Court.

Shane Jamarr White, 44, faces one count of attempted first-degree murder, one count of aggravated assault and one count of aggravated battery in connection with an incident on May 31, when he is alleged to have threatened a family member with a knife multiple times and to have injured another family member.

Shortly after White was charged, his defense attorney, Dakota Loomis, requested a competency evaluation, which Judge Amy Hanley granted. The evaluation, conducted by staff at Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, determined that White was incompetent to stand trial.

“Mr. White demonstrates signs or symptoms of mental illness or defects making him unable to understand the nature and purpose of the proceedings against him,” Hanley read from the evaluation report.

Loomis said he would work to get White admitted to Larned State Hospital and would have an update on his status on Oct. 19.

White, who appeared from the Douglas County Jail via Zoom, is being held on a $100,000 cash bond.

As the Journal-World previously reported, just before 1 p.m. May 31, officers said they were called to a residence in southwest Lawrence, where White attempted to harm a 73-year-old relative with a knife; another relative, a 76-year-old man, became involved and “suffered an injury during the altercation, which is not believed to have been caused by the knife,” police said.

Officers located White leaving the area, and he was taken into custody without incident, police said. The 76-year-old was taken to an area hospital via ambulance for treatment of injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. The 73-year-old was uninjured, police said.

White has previous convictions in Douglas County going back to 1999 for felony theft and burglary, according to Kansas Department of Corrections records. He is also currently facing seven counts of misdemeanor criminal damage to property for allegedly damaging tires between February and April.

Editor’s note: This story was revised to reflect upgraded charges against White.