He doesn’t even know where he is right now, his attorney told KHOU 11.
PASADENA, Texas — An 83-year-old man who is accused of shooting a spectator at a high school band competition in Pasadena believed he and his wife were being chased and feared for their lives, according to his defense attorney.
Dennis Brandl, a retired Navy veteran with no prior criminal history, remains in jail after allegedly opening fire through an auditorium door at Pasadena Memorial High School on Saturday night, shooting Dwight Benjamin who was attending the event. Brandl was reportedly searching for additional targets when four fathers of students tackled and restrained him.
“Nobody could predict that this would’ve happened,” said Paul Doyle, Brandl’s defense attorney, following a court hearing Monday where his client’s bond was increased to $300,000.
According to Doyle, the incident occurred after Brandl and his wife, a former schoolteacher, pulled off the freeway while driving to the coast.
“His wife needed to use the bathroom… he thought something was happening to her, in his mental state at the time, and here we are,” Doyle explained.
We asked Doyle if he has been diagnosed with any mental illnesses. Doyle wouldn’t share specifics on his client.
“When you spent 83 years of your life being a productive member of society and something like this happens, I think you could do the math on that,” Doyle said.
The defense attorney described the shooting as a “tragic incident” and expressed relief that the victim is expected to recover and no others were injured. Doyle added that if Brandl is released on bond, he will not have access to firearms.
A judge has ordered Brandl to undergo a mental evaluation. According to his attorney, Brandl currently appears disoriented and “doesn’t even know where he is.”
Benjamin is expected to be OK.