The man accused of fatally shooting a St. Paul father who rushed out of his home to help respond to a multi-vehicle crash last September has been found incompetent to stand trial due to mental illness.

The court made the finding in Lionel Eaton’s case last week, according to documents filed in Ramsey County District Court.

Eaton, 27, was charged with second- and third-degree murder in the death of Javier Sanmiguel. Police found the 31-year-old Sanmiguel lying behind Eaton’s Ford Escape with a gunshot wound to his head.

The married father of four was pronounced dead at the scene.

Neighbors said Sanmiguel and other residents streamed outside to help those involved in a multi-vehicle crash that took place Sept. 8 in their neighborhood near Case Avenue and Edgerton Street in St. Paul.

As they were checking on the driver of the Escape, which reportedly caused the collision after rear-ending another vehicle, residents noticed Eaton holed up in the back of the vehicle, according to the charges filed against him.

At some point, Eaton started firing a gun, and Sanmiguel was struck by a bullet, according to the criminal complaint.

Eaton’s mom later told police she had been concerned for her son’s mental health that day, indicating he had been acting “paranoid and erratic” and believed someone was trying to kill him, legal documents say. She was on the phone with him just before the shooting took place trying to get his location so she could get him to a hospital when the phone went silent.

Eaton told police someone rammed into him with another vehicle, causing him to hit his head, according to the criminal charges.

Then he said he thought he heard gunshots and hid in his car. He shot from inside the vehicle out, not aimed at any particular target, because he was fearful, according to statements he made to police, court documents say.

Police discovered a black Smith and Wesson handgun in “plain sight” of the driver’s seat inside Eaton’s Ford Escape, according to the complaint.

Eaton, who has no past felonies, is being held in custody as his mental health is monitored.