Accused killer of 3 to undergo independent psych examination
The accused shooter in a triple murder last summer in Pontiac will undergo a psychiatric evaluation independent from the state’s Center for Forensic Psychiatry, as requested March 24 by his attorney.
Ken- neth Durell Clay, 33, faces multiple felony charges in the Aug. 26, 2020 incident that left three men dead and a fourth seriously injured, all shot with the same 9mm handgun. Killed were Dominique Williams, 28, Kenrick Lanehart, 39, and Montray Morris, 29, all of Pontiac.
The shooting victims were among a group of men reportedly sitting on Clay’s porch in the Spring Lake Village apartment complex when Clay allegedly opened fire on them that evening. Reportedly, some in the group were linked to a beating Clay had suffered years earlier.
Witnesses testifying at last year’s preliminary exam said the group had Clay feeling nervous and upset as they sat right outside the front door of his apartment, where he lived with his girlfriend and their two young children. Another witness said she was with the group when “a shadowy figure” opened the front door, yelled some expletives and started shooting.
Last November, Clay was ordered to be evaluated for competency and criminal responsibility at the state’s facility. A second ordered round of testing is pending by an independent evaluator, due to Judge Michael Warren granting the defense attorney’s request.
Clay is charged with three counts of first-degree premeditated homicide, one count of assault with intent to murder and five firearms charges. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 19.