The court ruled Nathan David Becker, one of the two Brainerd men charged in the Jan. 4, 2015, double shooting on Juniper Street in Brainerd, is competent to stand trial.
Becker, 26, appeared Thursday in front of Judge David Ten Eyck in Crow Wing District Court as the Rule 20 for the defendant was complete. According to the Office of the Revisor of Statutes in Minnesota Court Rules website, a Rule 20 is to determine if a defendant is mentally ill and/or competent to stand trial. If the court determines that reasons exist to doubt the defendant's competency, the court must suspend the criminal proceedings. In a felony case, the court must order an examination of the defendant's mental condition.
Becker's St. Louis Park attorney Tracy Eichhorn-Hicks told the judge he talked with his client about the findings and they have agreed to move forward with the criminal proceedings. Crow Wing County Attorney Don Ryan said he also was ready to move forward.
The next step in the criminal proceeding is the jury trial. Ten Eyck scheduled jury selection for May 9 and the trial will start May 16.
Ten Eyck asked the attorneys if they had any other matters to bring forward before the trial. Eichhorn-Hicks said he had one small inquiry and it was how he could go about getting Becker his prescribed medication. Eichhorn-Hicks will make a request on the prescription with the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office.
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Becker and Tyler Allan Cronquist, 23, were each charged in the double shooting where two victims-Joseph Kroll and Chelsey Crawford, both of Brainerd-were shot in the head at an apartment on the 800 block of Juniper Street. The victims were airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, where Kroll died as a result of the gunshot wound. Crawford underwent surgery for her injuries and survived.
Becker was charged with aiding and abetting Cronquist, who was charged with second-degree murder with intent but not premeditation; attempted second-degree murder with intent; first-degree assault to cause great bodily harm; and second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5851. Follow me at www.twitter.com/jennewsgirl on Twitter.
