Authorities want the man who is suspected of firing a shotgun multiple times at other vehicles while driving on U.S. 127 Tuesday night to see a psychiatrist.
An East Lansing motorist was shot at in his vehicle near the Trowbridge Road exit off U.S. 127 and a Durand motorist was hit in the hand while driving near the Lake Lansing Road exit in Lansing Township.
Citing statements made by Daniel Lynn Freshney in court and to police, along with the lack of motive in the crime, both Ingham County Chief Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III and East Lansing police Capt. Juli Liebler said Thursday the 38-year-old Lansing man should be mentally assessed before standing trial.
"The statements he made I think are going to result in him having to go to the forensic center for psychiatric evaluation," Dunnings said.
Dunnings said a petition had not been filed yet in Ingham County for the evaluation because Freshney had yet to appoint an attorney. He was being held in the Clinton County jail and had not yet been arraigned in Ingham.
"I think there's no particular reason that he committed the crime so I think that in itself is an indicator that there may be a problem," Liebler said.
Freshney was charged with at least four felony counts in Ingham County and could face more, along with similar charges in Clinton County, where he was arrested after crashing his vehicle. He is being held on a $750,000 bond.
Dunnings said the Lansing man will be charged as a habitual offender and could face life-imprisonment for the two charges of assault with intent to commit murder and two charges of felony firearms.
He added Lansing police were still investigating the beginning of the series of events that led to the shootings.
Though Freshney faces several severe charges, no one was seriously hurt in the incident.
"He came very close to injuring many people with the gun plus the secondary effects like cars losing control and crashing," Liebler said. "It's extremely fortunate no one was hurt any worse than they were."
Staff writer Evan Rondeau contributed to this report.
