A federal judge has found Joseph K. Banks not guilty by reason of insanity for illegally possessing a firearm while on federal psychiatric release, following a series of random shootings in 2022 that left three men dead. Banks, 52, was living in a group home for adults with mental illness at the time of the murders and had previously been committed to a mental institution, raising questions about the adequacy of mental health support for individuals transitioning back into the community.
During the federal proceedings, it was revealed that Banks had skipped medication multiple times, causing alarm among staff who warned his probation officer of his potential for violence. With a history of gun-related felonies and a diagnosis of schizophrenia, Banks now faces an indefinite commitment to federal mental health care if ever released, underscoring the complexities of balancing public safety and mental health treatment.
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