Man charged in 2021 EXECUTION of Terre Haute police officer found "incompetent" to stand trial

TERRE HAUTE, IN - The man who has been accused and charged for killing a Terre Haute police detective back in 2021 has been deemed mentally unfit to stand trial.

According to FOX59, court documents state that a judge overseeing Shane Meehan's case determined that is suffering from a mental illness that makes him "mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to understand the nature and the consequences of the proceedings against him or to assist properly in his defense."

Meehan has been charged with the murder of federal officer Greg Ferency, attempted arson of federal property, and using a firearm during a crime of violence causing death.

Previous reports state that Meehan arrived at the secured parking lot for the Terre Haute RA building on July 7, 2021, where he proceeded to throw a Molotov Cocktail. A short time later, Meehan encountered Ferency which ended with Meehan reportedly shooting the former federal officer. Ferency was a veteran of the Terre Haute Police Department for 30 years. Before being killed, Ferency was working with the FBI Task Force.

After the first altercation, Meehan reportedly got involved in a shootout with another officer before getting into his truck and fleeing the federal building's parking lot.

Meehan was later found by law enforcement at a hospital in Terre Haute where he was undergoing surgery for the gunshot injuries he sustained during the incident. While searching Meehan's truck, police recovered three Molotov Cocktails and a firearm. Meehan was indicted by a grand jury back in January 2022.

At the time, FBI Indianapolis Acting Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelse said in a statement, "This indictment is another step forward in bringing resolution to the ambush of Task Force Officer Greg Ferency, who was one of 73 law enforcement officers intentionally killed in the line of duty last year, and one of three of our own FBI family to lose their lives at the hands of others. 

We will continue to mourn Greg's tragic loss and are reminded every day of the ultimate sacrifice he made while serving his community and country. We are committed to a thorough and meticulous investigation to bring resolution to this case and ensure accountability."

The recent competency hearing also concluded that with Meehan being left in the custody of the Attorney General's Office, which has been tasked with ensuring the suspect is hospitalized in a facility where he will receive any necessary medical treatment until his medical condition improves. This period cannot exceed four months.

Another competency hearing report will be filed after Meehan's time in the medical facility has concluded when Meehan has "attained the necessary capacity to continue the proceedings, the report will be due at the time of that determination."
 
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