Suspect in Deputy Goforth murder found competent to stand trial



>> See timeline of the Darren Goforth case ... FILE - Shannon Miles appears in court Monday, March 7, 2016. Miles was ruled competent to stand trial March 8, 2017 in the killing of Dep. Darren Goforth.

>> See timeline of the Darren Goforth case ... FILE - Shannon Miles appears in court Monday, March 7, 2016. Miles was ruled competent to stand trial March 8, 2017 in the killing of Dep. Darren Goforth. Photo: Marie D. DeJesus | Houston Chronicle Photo: Marie D. DeJesus | Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 29 Caption Close Suspect in Deputy Goforth murder found competent to stand trial 1 / 29 Back to Gallery

As he entered the Harris County 185th Criminal Court accompanied by the rhythmic clanging of his handcuffs on Wednesday, a disheveled Shannon Miles, 32, stood competent for the first time since being accused of the 2015 killing of a Harris County sheriff's deputy.

Now declared competent by Judge Susan Brown after months of evaluation, Miles was arraigned and entered a plea of not guilty to the murder of Darren Goforth.

Miles is accused of gunning down Goforth on Aug. 28, 2015 at a northwest Harris County gas station, while the deputy filled up his police cruiser. Miles allegedly ran up behind Goforth, put a gun to his head and fired. After Goforth fell, Miles allegedly the stood over him and emptied his pistol.

Goforth was in uniform when he died.

The arraignment and not guilty plea ends a more than yearlong process of evaluations and hearings to explore and help restore Miles' mental health, which prevented the trial from proceeding.

It wasn’t until Miles began taking medication for diagnosed mental illnesses that he regained competency, said Miles’ attorney, Anthony Osso.

“Now we can proceed with trial,” he said.

Miles was arrested shortly after Goforth's murder in northwest Harris County but was initially found incompetent to stand trial.

He was then sent to a North Texas State Hospital in Vernon for treatment and has remained under constant review by the courts since.

Days after Goforth's death, then Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman tied the shooting to the ongoing national debate about police violence. He called out, and criticized, the Black Lives Matter movement, prompting backlash from student activists who said Hickman drew an unfair connection between Goforth's death and the movement.

Goforth's death also spurred a campaign launched by police officers, local leaders and clergy meant to improve understanding between law enforcement and the community; in the weeks after Goforth's death, campaign organizers handed out thousands of wristbands inscribed with the phrase Pray for Police.

Miles and his attorney entered a plea Wednesday of not guilty in front of the judge.