Guilty Plea After Veterans Affairs Hospital Shooting

UPDATE to this story Gun knocked out of hand after shooting at Ohio VA

Suspect in VA hospital shooting pleads guilty
Associated Press
By LISA CORNWELL
17 hours ago

An Ohio man pleaded guilty Friday to assault with a dangerous weapon in a Veterans Affairs hospital shooting that wounded an employee.

Former Veterans Affairs employee Neil Moore pleaded guilty as part of a deal in which federal prosecutors agreed to drop a second charge. The 59-year-old Moore, of Trotwood, had also been charged with use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a violent crime.

Moore made the plea after a federal judge in Dayton ruled that he was mentally competent to stand trial. The judge had ordered a mental evaluation in response to a request from Moore's attorney, Frank Malocu, who says his client has a history of mental illness.

The plea agreement recommends a sentence of 5½ years in prison, which the judge can accept or reject. The count carries a possible maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $250,000.

Moore entered a break room at the Dayton VA Medical Center on May 5 and pointed a gun at several employees, and one employee was shot in the ankle in the ensuing scuffle, authorities said. Moore pointed the revolver at another person before fleeing, according to court documents.
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