May 01--A court-appointed psychiatrist will evaluate a black man accused of a hate crime in the baseball bat attack of a man in Rialto earlier this week, according to court records.
On Thursday, 22-year-old Jeremiah Bell appeared in court to be arraigned on attempted murder charges with an enhancement for use of a deadly weapon -- a baseball bat -- in the beating of Armando Barron, 54, in the head on Sunday. Bell was also charged with a hate crime.
During the hearing, Judge Jon Ferguson expressed doubt about Bell's mental competence and ordered the criminal proceedings delayed until a court-appointed psychiatrist could evaluate him, court minutes show. Bell had entered a not guilty plea.
Bell is due back in court June 9. By then, he could be charged with murder because Barron died on Thursday, San Bernardino County District Attorney officials said.
The impetus for the attack was Bell's desire to hurt someone who is not African American, said Rialto Police Sgt. Paul Stella.
"Anyone who was not black was a target," Stella said.
On Sunday, Barron was walking home from the grocery store in Rialto when he crossed paths with Bell, who police say struck him several times in the head with a baseball bat.
Barron's family has launched an online campaign to raise funds for his funeral and medical expenses.
Prosecutors plan to file murder charges against Bell once reports confirming Barron's death are submitted, a D.A. spokesman said.
Bell was arrested at his Fontana apartment Monday after investigators with the Fontana Police Department, who are conducting an unrelated probe involving him, said he matched the description of the suspect in the Rialto attack, Stella said.
Bell is being held on $1-million bail.
UPDATE
9:13 a.m.: This post has been updated with additional information about court appointing psychiatrist to evaluate suspect.
This story was originally posted at 4 a.m.
