Bruce Foster ruled not competent for trial in New Albany shooting case

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A judge ruled that Bruce Foster III must undergo treatment to restore competency after being found mentally unfit.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The man accused of shooting six people, killing two inside a New Albany warehouse appeared in a courtroom Thursday for a second time to see if he was competent to stand trial.

The Licking County judge found that Bruce Foster III is mentally unfit and subject to court-ordered hospitalization. Foster must also undergo treatment to restore competency. His bond was revoked.

The shooting happened the night of Feb. 4 at the KDC/One building. Following an hourslong manhunt for Foster, he was arrested inside his Short North apartment.

Foster was last in the courtroom for a brief hearing on March 19. His attorney argued then that Foster needs to be hospitalized before he can go on trial.

That competency hearing lasted less than 90 seconds.

The accused mass shooter’s attorney gave the judge a mental health evaluation that said Foster needs mental health help before he is well enough to face charges.

“The competency report is the medical report that says at this point, hospitalization is needed before we can have a meaningful procedure in the court,” said defense attorney Brandon Shroy. “At this point, it is still in a medical venue and not in a criminal one.”

Foster had been “pink-slipped” by the Columbus Division of Police twice in 2022. That means his family had concerns about his behavior, and he was briefly put in a hospital to be evaluated.

“Hospitalization is necessary for him to meaningfully participate with what we are doing right now,” Shroy said during the March hearing.

The Licking County prosecutor asked for a second expert opinion before the judge makes his decision, and the judge agreed.

The second hearing happened Thursday when the court found that Foster must undergo treatment to restore competency.