Shooting spree suspect ordered to mental facility

Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2003 | 9:25 a.m.

A 26-year-old man who allegedly went on a shooting rampage in late September, killing one man and shooting two Metro Police officers, has been ordered by a judge to undergo psychiatric tests at the state's forensic mental hospital.

District Judge Kathy Hardcastle on Monday ordered Frank Robert Lyles to be examined by doctors at Lakes Crossing, the state facility for mentally disordered offenders, in Sparks, before determining whether to proceed with murder and attempt murder charges.

Lyles' attorney, James "Bucky" Buchanan, told the judge that two psychiatrists examined his client and filed reports with the court recommending additional evaluation. One of the doctors was in the courtroom, but Hardcastle declined to question him and instead based her decision on the reports.

"Based on the findings of the two doctors ... (Lyles) should have further evaluation," Hardcastle said at Lyles' arraignment that lasted about five minutes.

Lyles was present, wearing Clark County Detention Center fatigues and shackles. He stood when his name was called but did not address the court.

Prosecutors did not object to Buchanan's motion to send Lyles to the facility that regularly evaluates murder defendants who have a history of mental illness.

Lyles, who is on Social Security disability, has such a history of mental illness.

Outside the courtroom, Buchanan said the judge's decision means the case will remain on hold until the hospital can determine when or if his client is competent to stand trial.

The shooting spree occurred on Sept. 25, two days after Lyles had gone to an appointment at the Nevada Division of Mental Health and Developmental Services clinic at 2121 Las Vegas Blvd. North, in North Las Vegas. He was refused medication and his appointment was rescheduled for that Friday.

Buchanan had previously said his client had been without medication to treat his mental illness for about seven days when the shooting occurred.

Dr. David Rosin, medical director for Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services, said Monday that a review of policies that began in the wake of the Lyles incident remains ongoing.

Rosin said in addition to reviews resulting from such incidents the agency's policies for disbursing medication "is under constant revision."

He said under current policy, clients who miss their doctor appointments at any of the four Las Vegas valley clinics are not routinely turned away but are evaluated for emergency medication if they are out of medication.

Clients who miss the hour of their doctor appointments and show up later that day are seen by a nurse for a medical assessment. Those who miss appointments but are deemed not to be in immediate danger are given standby appointments to return, usually within a few days, mental health officials said.

While officials have declined to discuss Lyles' case because of confidentiality laws, apparently Lyles apparently had been given a standby appointment prior to his shooting spree, based upon Buchanan's statements and the situation surrounding shooting.

Following the Lyles incident, local mental health officials said a combination of understaffing and a high percentage of patients missing their appointments have plagued the system.

The four clinics combined are budgeted for 345 clients per doctor, but the caseload is closer to 800 clients per doctor, officials said, noting that clients miss appointments 25 percent of the time.

Lyles' arrest report says he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was under a doctor's care. He bought a .22 caliber handgun several days before the shooting to carry out what he called his "dream" to kill someone, the report says.

The report says he walked down Bonanza Road near Martin L. King Boulevard and randomly killed Kevin Chandler, firing at him numerous times as the man pleaded for his life, according to the report and witness accounts.

Police confronted Lyles in front of a furniture store on Martin L. King Boulevard, but he ran behind the store, the report says.

Four officers chased Lyles and a gunfight ensued, with rounds hitting three-year veteran officer David L. Petrucci, 28, in the head and hand and four-year veteran officer Shon R. Comiskey, 31, in the face, police said.

Lyles eventually surrendereds.