A man who is charged in a shooting death that authorities said was recorded on Snapchat has been ruled competent to stand trial.
A Hall County judge ruled Nov. 5 that Talon Lowery “is capable of understanding the nature of the charges against him,” according to court documents obtained by Channel 2 Action News. Lowery’s attorney, Jeffrey Brickman, had claimed in court documents in February that Lowery was mentally incompetent, according to a report.
The ruling by Superior Court judge Kathlene Gosselin came after a one-day court session Oct. 10.
Lowery, who was 19 at the time of the Nov. 2, 2017, shooting, is facing felony murder and other charges in connection with the death of Bryan Ramirez, 18, of Gainesville, authorities said.
RELATED: Snapchat video of deadly shooting helps deputies find suspect
The incident happened just before 10 p.m. outside a Texaco station in the 4100 block of Cleveland Highway, according to Sgt. Stephen Wilbanks of the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. Ramirez, an employee, was taking a break with a friend when a Ford F-150 drove through the parking lot.
The truck’s occupant fired one shot from a rifle, hitting Ramirez in the back, authorities said. Emergency crews took him to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
White County investigators, who were familiar with Lowery, informed Hall County officials that they were aware of a Snapchat video of the shooting, Wilbanks said. Lowery is from Sautee, which is in White County.
Investigators there detained Lowery at his residence until Hall County deputies arrived. Investigators found the alleged weapon in the truck, which was at Lowery’s home, according to Wilbanks.
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