Judge Will Receive Progress Report on Sanity Status of Ricardo Tapia November 18

Judge Susan Speer will receive a progress report on the sanity status of Ricardo Tapia Friday, Nov. 18, at 8:30 a.m. in Department V at Los Angeles Superior Court in Van Nuys.

A decorated U.S. Marine veteran with severe, combat-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury, Tapia fatally shot one person and critically injured another during an incident in 2013 when he suddenly believed he was in a combat situation again.

On May 16, 2016, Judge Speer found Tapia not guilty by reason of insanity. He had been incarcerated at the L.A. County Jail for more than two years and had undergone many medical and mental health evaluations as well as court hearings during that time. Judge Speer ordered Tapia to be committed to Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino County for treatment.

Because this is a case involving death and great bodily injury, under California law Tapia must remain confined at Patton State Hospital for at least 180 days after the sentencing date. Judge Speer will have the discretion of ordering Tapia to remain longer at Patton State Hospital or be transferred to another suitable placement option such as a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facility. Tapia has been rated 100 percent disabled by the VA.

On Dec. 20, 2013, Tapia heard a loud thump from the apartment directly above his. After telling his pregnant fiancée to take cover with their toddler because a war was starting, he took a handgun from his safe, ran upstairs, broke a window to the apartment directly above his, entered and began shooting, fatally injuring Giam Kim Hoang and critically injuring Hoang’s wife, Ngoc Hoan Thi Nguyen.

Pasadena Attorney William M. Paparian has represented Tapia since shortly after the incident.