Judge rules man's schizophrenia not cause of workplace murder

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) - A Memphis man faces life in prison after a judge rejected his claim that mental illness caused him to shoot two people.

Charles Hammond, 32, is accused of walking into his family's business and opening fire on employees, killing one.

The shooting, which investigators said was unprovoked, happened in July 2016 at JARS Delivery.

Hammond was sentenced to life in prison for killing 48-year-old Michael Osborn. He also faces sentencing on two counts of attempted first-degree murder.

Hammond's attorneys argued that Hammond's schizophrenia caused him to be unable to understand the wrongness of his actions.

Criminal Court Judge Paula Skahan agreed with defense doctors that Hammond indeed has schizophrenia, but but ruled that Hammond was in control of his actions on the day of the shooting.

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