Tran found incompetent for trial in Oakdale boy's shooting death

Nhan Lap Tran
Nhan Lap Tran, 34, of Oakdale, Minn., is charged with murder in a shooting spree on Monday, Feb. 11, 2013, which killed 9-year-old Devin Aryal and left two women injured.
Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff

The man accused of shooting and killing a 9-year-old Oakdale boy has been found incompetent to stand trial, for now.

Nhan Tran will be sent to a state security hospital for treatment, and could yet face trial for the February shooting death of Devin Aryal.

Washington Co. District Court judge Gary Schurrer signed an order commencing civil commitment proceedings against Tran at a hearing this morning in Stillwater.

Tran is accused of killing Aryal and wounding his mother and other motorists passing by when he fired a gun into traffic in Oakdale in February.

A psychological examination by requested Tran's attorney found him incompetent to stand trial in March. A psychological exam requested by prosecutors had "equivocal" findings, according to Washington Co. Attorney Pete Orput. The report was filed in court this morning.

The judge set a date in November to review again whether Tran is mentally competent to face trial

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