ANDERSON, Ind. — A judge has ruled that the man charged with murdering Elwood Police Ofc. Noah Shahnavaz is competent to stand trial.
Carl Boards II's lawyers had claimed he had an intellectual disability.
But in an order issued Tuesday, July 23, the judge said all three doctors that examined Boards found him competent. The judge quoted one doctor as saying, "There was nothing at all in my evaluation that indicated any failing in his competence. He did not present with any deficit in this regard at all. He is not just competent, he is very competent."
The judge also ruled that the trial for Boards would stay in Madison County, where Shahnavaz was killed. The judge said the jurors for the trial will be drawn from Delaware County.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the case.
Boards is accused of fatally shooting Shahnavaz on July 31, 2022. He is charged with murder, two counts of resisting law enforcement, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and a firearm enhancement for being a habitual offender.
Timeline of events
Indiana State Police said Shahnavaz tried to stop a 2012 Buick LaCrosse near the intersection of State Road 37 and County Road 1100N in Madison County just after 2 a.m. Sunday, July 31, 2022.
According to court documents, Shahnavaz radioed in the license plate number. The last radio transmission from the officer recorded him saying, "had a gun."
ISP said the suspect got out of the Buick and fired multiple rounds at Shahnavaz for an unknown reason. Shahnavaz was hit multiple times. His gun was found still in its holster. Investigators found 36 rifle bullet casings in the road that are believed to be from the suspect's gun.
Police said the suspect then took off in the Buick.
RELATED: Attorneys claim 'intellectual disability' for suspect accused of killing Elwood Officer Shahnavaz
Additional responding officers gave first aid to Shahnavaz until an ambulance arrived. He was taken to a hospital in Elwood before being moved to a hospital in Indianapolis, where he died from his injuries.
Around 2:30 a.m., the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department attempted to stop the Buick on State Road 37. A tire deflation device was used on it near State Road 37 and 146th Street, but the Buick kept going and made it onto Interstate 69.
Fishers Police Department officers then twice used their vehicles to stop the Buick. The second time, the Buick hit the median barrier and came to a stop. Officers were then able to arrest the suspect.
During the arrest of the suspect, a handgun was located on him. It was a 9mm handgun. A black rifle with a high-capacity magazine was on the driver's seat of the vehicle. A high-capacity magazine was also found at the barber shop where the suspect worked.