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Public Safety

Mental Competency Hearing Set For Man Accused In Homeless Attacks

Police arrest Jon David Guerrero, July 15, 2016.
10News
Police arrest Jon David Guerrero, July 15, 2016.

A mental competency hearing is scheduled Wednesday for a man accused of attacking mostly homeless men in San Diego neighborhoods in 2016, resulting in four deaths.

Jon David Guerrero, 41, is charged with four counts of murder, including a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders that could lead to the death penalty if he's convicted.

After reviewing two doctor's reports, Judge Margie Woods ruled in July of last year that Guerrero was not mentally competent to stand trial and ordered that he be sent to a state mental hospital for treatment.

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RELATED: Suspect In Homeless Attacks Found Mentally Incompetent

Deputy Public Defender Dan Tandon said his client would not be at Wednesday's status hearing, but it was unclear whether Guerrero's competency has been restored or if he has been returned to San Diego to face charges.

According to prosecutors, Guerrero's crime spree began on Feb. 8, 2016, when the defendant stabbed a man who was sleeping on a sidewalk.

Other attacks happened on June 28, July 3, July 4, July 6 and July 13, Deputy District Attorney Makenzie Harvey said.

Guerrero was arrested in the early morning hours of July 15, 2016, after police found a 55-year-old man in the East Viillage suffering from "significant trauma" to his upper body. Guerrero — who was on a bicycle — had a backpack containing a large mallet with apparent blood stains along with three railroad spikes, Harvey said.

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