XXXTentacion murder suspect to get mental competency exam

Maria Puente | USA TODAY

One of the four men charged in connection with the June shooting death of rising rapper XXXTentacion in south Florida has been ordered to undergo a mental competency exam before proceeding to trial.

A document filed Monday in the Broward County Circuit Court says a judge has determined there are "reasonable grounds" to suspect Michael Boatwright, 22, is "not mentally competent" to face a trial on the first-degree murder charge against him.

The judge appointed experts to examine Boatwright and determine if he understands such matters as the charges against him, the possible penalties and whether he can assist in his defense and behave appropriately in court.

The document does not say why the judge has reason to question Boatwright's competency. His public defender of record, Gabriel Ermine in Fort Lauderdale, did not return a call from USA TODAY to discuss the matter.

A message to a spokesperson for Broward County State Attorney Mike Satz also was not returned.

Last month a grand jury in Fort Lauderdale indicted Boatwright along with three others, Dedrick Williams, 22; Robert Allen, 22; and Trayvon Newsome, 20, with first-degree murder and armed robbery charges in connection with the murder of XXXTentacion, 20, (real name Jahseh Onfroy), who was shot as he left a motorcycle dealership in Pompano Beach in June.

Police said the rapper's luxury sports car was blocked by another vehicle, and two masked gunmen approached; XXXTentacion was shot multiple times. The gunmen fled with a Louis Vuitton bag containing $50,000, police said.

Witnesses told Broward County sheriff's investigators that Boatwright and Newsome allegedly were the gunmen, but under Florida law all four men can face murder charges if they were involved in the shooting in some way.

Williams, Boatwright and Allen are in custody; Newsome remains at large.