Trudy Hickey offered words of solace to her son, Mitchell, as he entered the courtroom in restraints on Wednesday, facing grave charges stemming from an incident that has irrevocably altered multiple lives.
Mitchell Rose, aged 32, is charged with two counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault with a weapon, and three counts of assault causing bodily harm in connection to assaults on three individuals at a St. John’s apartment complex on Monday.
Rose’s family disclosed that he suffers from schizophrenia and has been grappling with untreated psychosis since being discharged from a vital program several months ago.
Expressing their concerns, his sister Janaya Rose remarked, “We had a premonition that something terrible would occur, but we never anticipated harm befalling others; we feared for Mitchell’s safety.”
Previously under a community treatment order—a directive from a psychiatrist mandating care for severe mental disorders—Rose’s family had the ability to seek help from an assertive community treatment (ACT) team during crises, with the team authorized to provide involuntary care if deemed necessary.
However, the family was dismayed to discover that Rose had been released from the treatment order without their knowledge months earlier, rendering the ACT team powerless to intervene when his mental health deteriorated.
Despite their efforts to persuade Rose to seek medical attention on Monday, he declined. Subsequently, law enforcement and the mental health crisis unit were summoned to the scene. When Rose resisted their entry into his residence, the team advised him to contact a mental health support hotline.
Sadly, the situation escalated, culminating in Rose’s arrest for serious offenses. Details of the attacks remain scant, with witnesses reporting hearing distressing sounds within the building and discovering a distressing scene shortly thereafter.
Three individuals were hospitalized as a consequence of the assaults, one of whom was listed in critical condition. Rose’s family emphasized his once-vibrant nature, highlighting his passion for basketball and dreams of becoming a firefighter, before his mental health struggles commenced at age 19.
The family stressed the impact of a community treatment order in stabilizing Rose’s condition through mandatory injections, which he was no longer receiving due to purported non-engagement with the program, unbeknownst to them.
Labeling the situation as negligent, Trudy Hickey lamented the systemic gaps in mental health care that resulted in the tragic events. Janaya Rose echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the shattered lives and urgent need for system improvements.
Rose’s court appearance revealed his non-cooperation with a psychiatric assessment, leading to an order for him to undergo evaluation at a psychiatric facility. His family expressed relief at this development, considering it a slight reprieve amid the turmoil.
Further assessments are scheduled to determine Rose’s fitness to stand trial, with his family hopeful for a more appropriate resolution.