Judge Orders Competency Evaluation on Teen Charged in Shooting Death

A judge orders a competency evaluation on the 15-year-old charged with the shooting death of his mother in Stephens County last month.

The teen appeared before Mountain Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Russell Smith Wednesday morning in Stephens County Superior Court in Toccoa.

No bond was set, as the judge instead ordering the competency evaluation that will be conducted on the teen.

The 15-year-old is charged with malice murder in connection to the death of his mother, 46-year-old Kim Lanier.

Authorities have alleged that the teen shot and killed his mother on the morning of Monday, September 29 at their Prather Bridge Road residence.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Assistant District Attorney Rick Bridgeman said the teen took his mother’s life after some deliberation and forethought.

Meanwhile, the teen’s attorney, Timothy Healy, pointed to the numerous physical and mental challenges the teen faces and calls the case different than others he has dealt with.