White House Shooter Claiming to be 'Modern Day Jesus Christ' Back in Court
The suspect who fired shots at the White House last month in an alleged attempt to kill President Obama, after falling into the belief that Obama was the "devil,” has appeared in a federal court on Wednesday.
A federal judge decided to set another hearing for Friday to collect more evidence about Ortega-Hernandez’s mental health. According to the prosecutor, an exam is needed to determine whether he is mentally competent to participate in legal proceedings.
Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez, who calls himself the modern Jesus Christ, is accused of firing an assault rifle at the White House in an apparent attempt to assassinate Obama on Nov. 11.
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Witnesses had reported that the suspect had been acting strangely in recent months. Two months ago, the accused recorded a TV pitch to Oprah Winfrey in which he declared himself to be “the modern day Jesus Christ” and believes that Obama is the “devil.”
"You see Oprah, there is still so much more that God needs me to express to the world. It's not just a coincidence that I look like Jesus. I am the modern day Jesus Christ that you all have been waiting for," he said, according to Fox News.
When Ortega-Ramirez fired shots at the White House, two bullets hit the executive mansion, including one that reportedly broke an outer window layer but was stopped by the anti-ballistic glass.
During the shooting incident President Obama and his wife, Michelle, were in California preparing to head out to Hawaii, where Obama was hosting an Asia-Pacific economic summit.
After the incident, witnesses said that they saw the suspect’s car speeding away, but within minutes the police found his car and weapon.
An arrest warrant was issued for Ortega after evidence proved that the car was his. He was captured at a hotel in Pennsylvania after days of searching by police.
The accused was found to be competent to stand trial after a preliminary psychiatric screening, but federal prosecutors are seeking further extensive tests.
