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Jurors to decide if Brownsville murder suspect is competent to stand trial

Jurors to decide if Brownsville murder suspect is competent to stand trial
1 hour 22 minutes 41 seconds ago Thursday, November 05 2026 Nov 5, 2026 November 05, 2026 6:31 PM November 05, 2026 in News - Local
Source: KRGV
Humberto Paz. Photo credit: Brownsville Police Department.

Brownsville, TX (KRGV) — A competency trial has been scheduled to determine whether a man accused of killing someone inside the Brownsville Public Library can stand trial, his defense attorney confirmed to Channel 5 News.

The competency trial for Humberto Paz is set for Monday, Nov. 16, attorney Sara Stapleton said.

Paz is facing charges of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after the Brownsville Police Department said he shot and killed 71-year-old Vahid Khaledi inside the Brownsville Public Library in May 2024.

READ MORE: Brownsville Library shooting suspect may suffer from mental health issues, police say

Brownsville police said a preliminary investigation revealed the incident began due to a verbal altercation between Khaledi and Paz.

Paz was found to be incompetent in January 2025, and he was transferred to a mental health facility. In August 2026, a doctor testifying for the state found Paz regained competency, but a doctor with Paz’s defense team disputes that.

If Paz is found competent by the jury, the criminal case will resume and a trial date will be set. If the jury finds him incompetent, the criminal trial will be paused, and the judge will determine the appropriate competency-restoration process.

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