SAN DIEGO - A mental competency hearing was rescheduled Wednesday to Feb. 17 to give doctors more time to prepare an evaluation for a man accused of firing on San Diego police officers during a five-hour standoff at his ex-girlfriend's Bankers Hill apartment.
Titus Nathan Colbert, 33, of Las Vegas faces 105 years to life in prison if convicted of three counts of premeditated attempted murder of a peace officer and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Colbert, who was removed from the courtroom during his first court appearance in November because he wouldn't stop singing, tried today to interrupt Judge Steven Stone -- saying "I have bigger things I have to do in this world" -- but the judge stopped him and wrapped up the hearing.
At Colbert's arraignment, Deputy District Attorney Michael Runyon said a woman called police about 9:15 a.m. on Nov. 4, saying her ex-boyfriend may have gained access to her fourth-floor apartment on Brant Street.
When officers checked a rear bedroom of the apartment, Colbert allegedly shot at them from the bedroom, narrowly missing them, according to police.
One of the officers, Carlos Estrada, returned fire while other patrolmen retreated and called for backup.
During the standoff, Colbert also fired multiple rounds at two SWAT officers, Runyon alleged. One of them, eight-year SDPD veteran Matthew Hone, shot back at the suspect.
Prior to surrendering, the uninjured defendant disposed of a revolver and a rifle, dropping them to a courtyard below, according to the prosecutor. A subsequent search of the residence turned up another rifle, and 17 shell casings were recovered inside the apartment, Runyon said.
The emergency prompted evacuations, several school lockdowns, road closures and suspensions of incoming flights at nearby Lindbergh Field.
Colbert's former girlfriend was able to leave the apartment before the gunfire began and was not hurt, police said.
