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Court sketch of Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez, centre, in court today. AP Photo/Dana Verkouteren/PA Images
White House Shooting
Man charged over White House shooting 'fit to stand trial'
A 21-year-old man is accused of firing at least nine shots at the White House in an effort to assassinate President Barack Obama
THE MAN ACCUSED of firing shots at the White House in an attempt to kill President Obama has been found mentally fit to stand trial after undergoing a psychiatric evaluation.
Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez, 21, of Idaho was arrested last week and charged with attempting to assassinate the US president or his staff after allegedly firing several shots at the White House on 11 November.
One of the shots cracked a window at the Obama family’s residence and was stopped by ballistic glass. The first couple of the US were not home at the time of the incident.
A court-appointed psychiatrist said that an initial evaluation has found Ortega competent to understand the proceedings being brought against him and to help in his defence, but prosecutors have requested further testing in case the young man’s mental health becomes an issue at trial, the AP reports.
Ortega faces life in prison if convicted.
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