Mount Royal Market Attack Suspect Ruled Incompetent

Duluth, Minn. — The man accused of attacking an elderly man with a hammer at a Duluth grocery store has been ruled incompetent to stand trial at this time.  43-year-old Lance Tolbert is facing a first-degree murder attempt charge.

But Dr. Emma Welch, a psychologist, met with Tolbert and concluded, “He lacked insight into the nature of his incarceration or the extent of his psychiatric difficulties.” Welch diagnosed Tolbert with “unspecified schizophrenia spectrum” and “other psychotic disorder.” She also said, “Tolbert meets the criteria for commitment as a Person Who Has a Mental Illness and is Dangerous to the Public.”

A hearing for this conclusion is set for October 15th.